A poisonous debate has erupted since Nazi Paikidze, a 22-year-old American champion chess player, announced her decision to boycott next year’s World Chess Championship competition in Iran. A…
Source: Iran, chess, and the psychological bullying of non-hijabi defiant women | Nervana
Top Headline 12 Egyptian conscripts were killed in an Isis attack on security checkpoint in central Sinai Egypt launches ‘revenge’ airstrikes on ISIS in Sinai Russian paratroopers arriv…
Source: Egyptian Aak 2016 – Week 41 ( Oct 10-16) | Nervana
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From Twitter
Video from the arrival of Russian troops in Egypt for military exercise https://youtu.be/S1wmft7Tio4 cc @OrenKessler
Cooler relations between #Egypt & Saudi Arabia will hurt the former in the short run & the latter in the long runhttp://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-saudi-analysis-idUSKBN12E1N8 …
Fuel aid halt suggests deeper Saudi-Egyptian rift
A halt to shipments of Saudi fuel to Egypt under a $23 billion aid deal shows that a rift between the Arab world’s richest country and its most populous may be deeper than previously thought, which…
reuters.com
This video also highlights how Egyptians have tried 3 styles of rulers: Mubarak, Morsi, and Sisi, but still unhappy! 3/
@Nervana_1 #Egyptians keep looking for the perfect autocrat & their rulers keep looking for the perfect subjects. Both will be frustrated
Toktok driver’s passionate rant summarizing Egypt is the talk of town, eclipsing $ crunch-the mother of all criseshttps://twitter.com/faridyfarid/status/786506927375130624 …
The Egyptian daily Al-Watan ran this piece today: “Saudi Arabia pays the price for harboring terrorism.” (Arabic)https://twitter.com/elwatannews/status/786178846487814145 …
Al Masry Al Youm columnist suggests Egypt could look to Iran to counter Saudi moves harming Egypthttp://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/details/1023122 …
الاتجاه إلى إيران! | المصري اليوم
لا يوجد عاقل يفرح بالاشتباك القائم بين مصر والسعودية.. ولا أحد يُسعده نشوب أزمة.. ولا أتصور أن تقطع السعودية إمدادات النفط لأى سبب كان.. بيننا وبينهم عقد تجارى.. لا علاقة له بالسياسة.. قطع البترول…
almasryalyoum.com
BIG DECISION from Cairo University President to remove “religion” field in all university documents for students, faculty, staff. #Egypt
#Greek Prime Minister Alexis #Tsipras visits #Giza pyramidshttp://english.ahram.org.eg/News/245651.aspx … #Egypt
Interview
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Top Headlines Speculation mounts as an American security alert sparks anger in Egypt Lagarde Says Egypt Has More to Do to Seal $12 Billion Loan Senior figure in Muslim Brotherhood’s armed wi…
Source: Egyptian Aak 2016- week 40 (Oct 3-9) | Nervana
Top Headlines
IMF”s Lagarde during a visit to the Pyramids – via Reuters
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From Twitter
#EGYPT#GRAPH PICS.#IslamicState Execute Ismail Ahmed Mohammed Ali In Northern #Sinai Accuses Of Army Spy.#TerrorMonitor
Very interesting that #Egypt voted for UNSC #Russia-n resolution on #Syria along Russia, #China,#Venezuela; 9 against, 2 abstentions.
Saudi UN envoy harshly criticised Egypt for voting in favour of Russian UNSC Syria resolution
The Foreign Ministry is disturbed by the security message issued by the US embassy in Cairo.https://www.facebook.com/MFAEgyptEnglish/posts/1696864650641117 …
#Russia/n Government plane flew to #Egypt this morning and COMPLETELY avoided #Israel/i Airspace.https://twitter.com/AlRFORCEFREAK/status/785043168509169664 …
Four Christians kidnapped for 500k EGP ransom in Manfalut,#Minya; Released one day later for 150k EGPhttp://eshhad.timep.org/database/ #Egypt
Database – Eshhad إشهد
Eshhad’s Database is an online platform that aggregates and collates alleged religious persecution and sectarian attacks in Egypt.
eshhad.timep.org
Pro-MB Egyptian journalist continues her campaign to boycott Christian businesses. The joke: she lives in New Yorkhttps://www.facebook.com/AyatOrabi55/posts/1207672182640142 …
This Egyptian teen was killed while fighting for Nusra Front in Syria. Pic posted on May 7, 2016. The airlines shows how he got there.
The Kindle edition of “Arab Fall” is now available!:https://www.amazon.com/Arab-Fall-Muslim-Brotherhood-Egypt-ebook/dp/B01M1CS62L/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= … The story of the Muslim Brotherhood’s rise and fall in #Egypt.
Arab Fall: How the Muslim Brotherhood Won and Lost Egypt in 891 Days
How did Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood win power so quickly after the dramatic “Arab Spring” uprising that ended President Hosni Mubarak’s thirty-year reign in February 2011? And why did the Brotherhood…
amazon.com
#Egypt activist @weskandar promotes 9/11 conspiracy theory:https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10157438332770386&id=763825385 …
On the 35 anniversary of Pres. Sadat’s assassination, Egypt remembers him as a visionary leader. His memory and legacy lives on in Egypt
The Levy brothers:
Eddy (now Adel): Communist, became Muslim, stayed in Egypt
Benny: Communist in France, became Orthodox, moved to Israel
Happy #WorldSmileDay from #Egypt! [Photo by Hana Gamal]
Photo Gallery
Plus
Shimon Peres, one of the founders of Israel, has passed away. Many international dignitaries attended his funeral, although many Arab leaders from countries that officially signed peace treaties wi…
Source: Shimon Peres’s Funeral and the Arab World | Nervana
Shimon Peres, one of the founders of Israel, has passed away. Many international dignitaries attended his funeral, although many Arab leaders from countries that officially signed peace treaties with Israel were absent. Furthermore, those who attended the funeral, such as Palestinian President Abbas and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, were mocked relentlessly on social media. This sad encounter epitomizes the overall state of affairs in the Middle East, where shallow populism prevails over grace and maturity.
Arab Knesset member Ayman Odeh summed up the feelings of many Arabs inside and outside of Israel, “Tomorrow we commemorate the events of October 2000.” He was referring to the deadly clashes between Arab protesters and the police in northern Israel. He said, “One of the victims was my wife’s younger brother. Will any of the cabinet ministers put flowers on the victims’ graves? Can anyone feel our pain, or doesn’t anyone care?”
Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera TV published a report on the role of Shimon Peres in many atrocities against Arabs, including the Qana massacre. It is understandable for Arabs to feel anguish and resentment; after all, the wounds from the ongoing 100 year-old -Arab-Israeli conflict are still fresh and painful. Indeed, victims continue to struggle and feel ignored.
What is not understandable, however, is that their hatred is directed at the man who tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to make peace with the Palestinians, while the record from Arab countries with the Palestinians is no less dark and ruthless.
Readers do not need to be reminded of older events. Let us just look at Syria and Assad forces that have ruthlessly bombed Palestinian camps, trapping thousands of children andstarving others while claiming to be representing the “resistance camp” against Israel. Even Assad’s opponents did not stage a single protest in an Arab capital against his atrocities against his own people and against Palestinians living in Syria.
Off course, endless excuses and perspectives have been offered to justify disgraceful Arab mistreatment of the Palestinians. There is, however, one fact that cannot be denied: Peres fought his enemies and faithfully served his country, and never turned against his own people. Meanwhile, many Arab politicians have turned against their own Palestinian “brothers,” and shedding crocodile tears on Palestine.
For decades, Palestine has been the opium of the Arab world, used and abused to justify oppression, injustice, gambling, and failure. Ironically, those who actually tried to solve the Palestinian question were considered traitors, while those who did nothing but abuse the conflict for their own agenda have been systematically praised as faithful heroes.
It is easy to hate in my part of the world, but it is not so easy to fight for peace. Hatred is by far more popular and more rewarding, both politically and socially. Even at a personal level, the easiest way to gain respect is through hatred, while an open desire for peace and a firm belief in a two-state solution leads to aversion and accusations. What use is it to condemn the crimes of non-Arabs, but turn a blind–eye on the crimes of fellow Arabs? No one is without sin in the Middle East.
Many questions burst into my mind as I followed with dismay the endless mocking on social media.The tirades against Palestinian President Abbas and the Egyptian Foreign minister for attending Peres’s funeral were bewildering. Would both Abbas and Shoukry be blamed for attending the funeral of another Arab dictator? Let’s say for the example that Omar Bashir of Sudan passed away (although I do not wish death on anyone)? Would those who are nostalgic for Saddam Hussein, apologizing for Assad, and mute on the killing of civilians in Yemen have the courage to acknowledge their hypocrisy while ranting at Peres? Do Egyptians acknowledge that there is a price for peace?
I neither expect Arabs to love Peres (he was certainly no angel), nor would I want to force the two-state solution on them, but I would rather treat my enemies gracefully, rather than indulge in hatred while my leaders have their own hands full of the blood of their own people.
One hundred sixty-two people lost their lives off the Egyptian coast near the town of Rosetta on Friday. About 150 people are still unaccounted for after a boat carrying hundreds of illegal migrant…
Source: Illegal immigration and the myth of easy life in the West | Nervana
One hundred sixty-two people lost their lives off the Egyptian coast near the town of Rosetta on Friday. About 150 people are still unaccounted for after a boat carrying hundreds of illegal migrants capsized in the Mediterranean while attempting to head to Europe.
This tragedy, like many others in recent years, has obvious reasons, from apocalyptic wars to dire economics and suffocating political oppression. Tragedies in the midst of a search for a better life outside the Middle East, is not new. In fact, although little known, many victims of the 1912 sinking of the Titanic were Arabs. The difference between the Titanic tragedy and that in Rosetta, however, is not only in the numbers or circumstances, but also in the rationalization and mindsets. While early Arab immigrants calculated risks and tried as best as they could to prepare themselves for a life in the new world, current immigrants are fleeing based on a new level of desperation, such that they are willing to allow traffickers to exploit them.
“A boat that can take 200 had 450 or even 500 on board,” said Sarah Sirgany, in her report for CNN. Egyptians, Syrians, Sudanese and Eritreans joined together for the doomed trip. The Egyptian news portal, Al-Youm al-Sabei, published interviews with several survivors who said that before their journey the migrants had been “stored” for several days in chicken farms by the traffickers to evade police. Some of the interviewees said the traffickers asked for $6,250 per family to be given upon arrival in Italy.
Apart from the hapless political bickering between pro and anti-Egyptian president Sisi on the reasons behind illegal immigration in Egypt, we have to admit that there are also some farcical assumptions and delusions prevalent among many Egyptian youth and people that encourage them to embark on doomed trips toward the unknown.
First, the exotic dream.
Away from the cities, in rural Egypt, where radio and television is the main source of entertainment, fascinated youth watch Egyptian movies that glamorize life in the West. Take for example the film “Hamam in Amsterdam,” which describes a young, unemployed Egyptian who succeeded in building a life in the Netherlands, coming back with money and a blond wife. The film portrayed some struggles, but attributed most of the negative encounters to the “evil Zionists” who hated this Egyptian guy. These types of movies, with unchallenged narratives are enough to embed exotic dreams in youth and make the fantasy plausible in the minds of many.
Second, fatalism.
Calculating risk is generally absent from the Egyptian psyche. Even crossing the road can be an exercise in recklessness. The Arabic proverb, “Sit on a beehive and say this is fate” sums-up the mindset perfectly. Many pundits call this a backgammon mindset. Indeed Egyptians, particularly the many unemployed, do not just love to play backgammon, they have also adopted this game as a way of thinking, assuming that life is just up to one-stroke of luck. Moreover, there is a general unfounded perception among many Egyptians that success in the West can happen at a faster pace than in their native country. It makes many adopt a short-cut escalator-style mentality, wrongly assuming that all what they need is one opportunity to push them up the ladder.
Third, playing down the negative aspects of immigration.
There is a common theme prevalent among the handful of successful immigrants and the wannabe immigrants in Egypt. Both tend to paint rosy pictures about their success in the West. It is convenient and flattering to downplay the negative aspects of living in a new country. This down playing was almost non-existent in the writing of early immigrants such as by the poets Gibran Khalil Gibran and Elia Abu-Madi. Instead, they both wrote eloquently about the demoralizing impacts of immigration, and avoided giving false perceptions of an alleged paradise abroad. This trend has gradually vanished. Now, both legal and illegal immigrants, educated and uneducated tend, consciously or unconsciously, glamorize life in the West to please their own selfish ego.
The tragic deaths near the city of Rosetta should be a wake up call to everyone. The Egyptian leadership has the duty to provide youth with an incentive to stay and flourish in their homeland. Moreover, Egyptian society has to shake-up myths and assumptions about life in the Western world. Our youth must understand that handing over the live savings of their families to traffickers is a tragic waste of money and a huge risk to their life. The hope of easy sanctuary in the West is simply a mirage.
Top Headlines Egyptian parliament passes bill designating FGM a felony imposes stricter penalties Egyptian parliament approves new church building law Administrative Court rejects banning social …
Source: Egyptian Aak 2016 – Week 35 ( Aug 29 – Sept 4) | Nervana
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From Twitter
President of Egypt gets red carpet from main door of plane, Obama gets grey stairs from underbelly. Seriously?
#Egypt security asks @JohnKerry for his cell phone before entering meeting w/ Sisi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m6LK-tRVJ8&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop … Deliberate insult or ineptitude?
A stabilizing Sunni power is needed; however, the possible states –Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia– are increasingly unfit or unwilling to lead.
It is ironic how these Muslims enjoy civil liberties in Western democracies and still support Erdogan, who is undisputedly authoritarian.
Sisi’s crackdown after the successful coup is perhaps 1/10th of what Erdogan did after the failed one.
When the current Pontiff of terror continues to praise the father of radical Islamism. The Brotherhood is doomed! https://twitter.com/alqaradawy/status/770290160411955202 …
حسْبُنا أن الرجل قدم عنقه فداء لدعوته، وأعتقد أنه ممن جعل صلاته ونسكه ومحياه ومماته لله رب العالمين.
#pt Egyptian MP supports FGM because Egypt has many men with sexual dysfunction. Yes, this really happened.
The milk formula crisis in Egypt is solved … https://twitter.com/shawajason/status/771731571334324224 …
Arab states top list of world’s 10 fattest countries. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Qatar. http://gazettereview.com/2016/06/top-10-fattest-countries-in-world/ …
Colours of Minya: Alwanat cultural centre brings art to children and youth in Upper Egypthttp://english.ahram.org.eg/News/242264.aspx …
Plus
Via Dr Nervana Mahmoud
Tunisian women, one (R) wearing a “burkini”, a full-body swimsuit designed for Muslim women. Photo credit should read FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images)The ban on the Islamic burkini, or full-body swimsuit, on the beaches of the French Riviera has triggered heated debates and controversies. For some, it is a ban on freedom of choice; for others, the ban is a symbol of Islamist extremism. For me, however, it triggers painful memories of another struggle by women in the Muslim world who were stripped of the right to make their own choice on the matter.“Maybe it is not a good idea to swim on a public beach,” one of my mother’s friends once told me with a stern look on his face. He then added, “You would be harassed in such a conservative culture as ours.” I was only 11 at the time and was struggling to swim. To be honest…View original post 1,013 more words
Source: The Right Not To Wear A Burkini
Top Headlines IMF mission arrives in Cairo to discuss Egypt’s loan request Al-Azhar rejects Egypt government decision to standardize Friday sermons Egypt has not received political asylum request f…
Source: Egyptian Aak 2016- Week 30 ( July 25-31) | Nervana
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From Twitter
#Egypt‘s Coptic pope cites 37 attacks on Christians since 2013.@Eshhad_ cited 400+ since Aug 2013 http://eshhad.timep.org/
Eshhad إشهد – Sectarian Attacks in Egypt
Sectarian Attacks in Egypt
eshhad.timep.org
Today in History, 1956: Egypt nationalizes the Suez Canal.http://ow.ly/X22b302CsS4
The Suez: International Roadway
OF all the great roadways of the world, the sea road to India via the Isthmus of Suez is probably the most important, for it joins East and West, Asia and Europe– that is, the two most thickly-pop…
foreignaffairs.com
Al-Ahram reporting that Egyptian cabinet are willing to consider political asylum requests made by Fethullah Gülen.https://twitter.com/eahram/status/758380255069532160 …
Egypt PM on non-existing political asylum request by Gulen to Egypt: “but we haven’t received one yet.” https://twitter.com/eahram/status/758380255069532160 …
My reporting worlds, old and present, collide: Pakistan’s army chief meets with Egypt’s (ex-general) president.
Netanyahu’s speech today at Egypt’s embassy in Tel Aviv for Revolution Day, marking the Free Officers’ revolutionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu89d9WskdM&feature=youtu.be …
Alleged picture of Gamal Mubarak, at the very posh North Coast club 6 degrees. #Egypt
Egypt parliament to dicuss bill that’ll remove “religion” from national IDs. Would be beyond awesome if approvedhttp://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/details/986539 …
«تشريعية النواب» تبدأ مناقشة إلغاء خانة الديانة الأسبوع المقبل | المصري اليوم
تبدأ لجنة الشؤون الدستورية والتشريعية بمجلس النواب، الأسبوع المقبل، نظر اقتراح بمشروع قانون مقدم من علاء عبدالمنعم، وأكثر من 60 نائباً، بشأن منع التمييز، والذى بمقتضاه سيتم إلغاء خانة الديانة من…
almasryalyoum.com
88.1 pct of Egyptian families own mobile phones: CAPMAS http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/236203.aspx …
“He’s a special young talent” – Egyptian youngster Ramadan Sobhi signs for @stokecity: http://preml.ge/4oKwRT
Plus
Top Headlines Sectarian violence in Minya in Upper Egypt Egyptian court annuls Ahmed Mortada Mansour’s membership in the parliament Egypt’s central bank governor said that time was not…
Source: Egyptian Aak 2016-Week 29 (July 18- 24) | Nervana
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From Twitter
Secretary @JohnKerry’s remarks this morning with #Egypt‘s Foreign Minister Shoukry: http://go.usa.gov/xCbjz
This is a very Egypt tweet https://twitter.com/trpresidency/status/756958578498478081 …
July 19: Nine Injured After Fights Break Out in Edmu, Minyahttp://eshhad.timep.org/database/ #Egypt
This is #Egypt today. The video starts with a #Coptic girl saying “Mama I am afraid”.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcS21Pcbm8Y …
#ifSisicaredaboutCopts he would stop reconciliation sessions and enforce the law to protect life and property
#ifSisicaredaboutCopts he would ask education minister to review and change school books to teach Coptic history and contribution to country
#Egypt says police on the street to combat high dollar price. Because that’s how you handle failing monetary policy.https://twitter.com/ahmada2/status/757225684909654017 …
Egypt-Qatar feud moves into bid for UNESCO leadershiphttp://www.themedialine.org/news/egypt-qatar-face-off-bid-unesco-leadership/ … Egypt candidate implies its “civilization” surpasses Qatar’s
Egypt-Qatar face off in bid for UNESCO leadership – The Media Line
Contest Reflects Broader Rivalry CAIRO – The ongoing […]
themedialine.org
An Arab leader warned Morsy about a possible coup, Morsy replied “Sissi is in my little pocket here” | Arabic #Egypt http://bit.ly/2alk7ai
Libyan Pilot Jamal al-Din Saleh Graduates first among int’l students at #Egypt‘s Air Collegehttp://alwasat.ly/ar/news/libya/112299/ …
July 19, 1916: Turkey Begins Advance in Sinai | MEI Editor’s Bloghttp://bit.ly/29LByjC
A solar-powered plane has left Egypt on the last leg of the first ever fuel-free flight around the globe http://trib.al/ZkiPQQ8
Solar Plane On Last Leg Of World Tour
The solar-powered plane sets off in the Cairo darkness towards Abu Dhabi, where it began its journey in March 2015.
news.sky.com
Plus
Apology for the late posting of my weekly Egypt’s compilation, as I was in a short trip abroad. Top Headlines Egypt Air MS804 cockpit recorder contents are not damaged TV host Liliane Daoud …
Source: Egyptian Aak 2016 – Week 26 ( June 26-July 3) | Nervana
Apology for the late posting of my weekly Egypt’s compilation, as I was in a short trip abroad.
Top Headlines
Main Headlines
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From Twitter
3 yrs ago, unprecedented millions in #Egypt demanded Morsi’s ouster. MB claimed it was Photoshopped, refused to negotiate, paid heavy price.
Feminist Activist and Woman Human Rights Defender Mozn Hassan Banned from Travel – http://nazra.org/en/node/498 #Egypt#WHRD
Ex husband of @liliandaoud narrates in detail the abduction of the Leb. TV host. She wasn’t allowed to pack. #Egypt
Egyptian series al-Kayser’s episode yesterday indirectly suggested the Italian student Giulio Regeni was killed by a human rights org.
After Israel and Russia, Egypt seems to be next!
Turkish FM Çavuşoğlu says ready to meet with Egyptian counterpart.http://www.ozgurdusunce.com/haber/misir-la-gorusmeye-hazirim-25110/ …Mısır’la görüşmeye hazırım
İsrail ve Rusya konusunda çark eden AKP Hükümeti şimdi yıllardır
ozgurdusunce.com
Real pic of #Egypt secondary school students’ revolt against corrupt & bankrupt education system
30 June anniversary: Ahram Online video of pesidential palace mass protests (republished)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_IOrcF1nNw …
Plus
Finally, here are Jayson Casper’s prayers for Egypt
Mark Geoffrey Kirshner 