LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
November 18/2012

Bible Quotation for today/
Saint Luke 18/01-08: "Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'"The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
The solution to Gaza…return to Syria/By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 17/12
Kuwait: The dangers of street politics/By Amir Taheri/Asharq Alawsat/November 17/12
Middle East Stories Behind the News: Libya, Palestinians, Anti-American Terrorism, Lebanon, Egypt/By: Barry Rubin/November 17/12

Middle East Stories Behind the News: Libya, Palestinians, Anti-American Terrorism, Lebanon, Egypt
by Barry Rubin on Friday, November 16, 2012 at 9:16am ·
http://www.rubinreports.blogspot.co.il/2012/11/middle-east-stories-behind-news-libya.html
Middle East Stories Behind the News: Libya, Palestinians, Anti-American Terrorism, Lebanon, Egypt
By Barry Rubin
The most interesting developments in the Middle East aren't in the news stories but can be discovered by analyzing those reports. Here are a few developing right now. --The Libyan government gave 50 percent of the funds to finance the budget of the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated Syrian National Council (SNC) budget. Since Libya is very much a U.S. client, it’s reasonable to conclude that the Obama Administration encouraged this generosity. Yet this money was financing a Muslim Brotherhood front. A lot of arms have been flowing from Libya to Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip and to radical forces in Syria. Some claim that the U.S. government was coordinating that traffic though this has not yet been proven. The SNC has now been replaced by a new umbrella group whose role and even survival is still unproven.
This means the Obama Administration was using a barely disguised channel to pay for a revolutionary Islamist movement seeking to take over Syria. The fact that this group was also anti-American, antisemitic, and genocidal toward Jews seems significant. The rest of the SNC budget came from Qatar (38 percent) and Saudi Arabia (12 percent). Now the SNC has fallen apart but U.S. efforts to broker a new Syrian opposition leadership have failed completely.
--Not only is al-Qaida not dead but its sympathizers and those influenced by it have planned a remarkable number of terrorist attacks on American soil, 95 in the last three years according to the Senate Intelligence Committee. It’s interesting to note that the committee lists the Fort Hood attack among them, despite executive branch denials that it was terrorism.
--As if to ensure strong opposition to making Palestine a non-member state in the UN—the only diplomatic initiative the Palestinian Authority has come up with in the last four years which in no way s advances peace with Israel—Abbas Zaki says once this happens the Oslo accords will be void. One implication of this stance is that a state of Palestine will exist which has denounced any recognition of Israel's existence. Granted that he is a traditional PLO hardliner crony of Arafat but this really underlines the point that such a step would destroy any basis for a peace process and potentially reopen the conflict fully.
--An attack from Lebanon on Israel is increasingly unlikely because that country is moving toward a civil war of its own. Currently, Lebanon is dominated by Syrian and Iranian clients, Hizballah, the Shia Islamist group, and pro-Syrian Sunni Muslim politicians. In contrast, the opposition has been led by Sunni moderates
But Syria’s civil war is shaking this situation. Hizballah and its patron Iran have been supporting its other patron, the Syrian dictatorship. The opposition, which includes the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist Sunnis, is outraged. If the current Syrian government is overthrown, and this is already visible, the opposition is going to go after the Lebanese regime.
Not only will it support the Sunni Muslims there against the Shia but it is likely to sponsor a transformation of the Sunni side with radical Islamists replacing moderates. A sign of that coming civil war has been several days of fighting in the Lebanese city of Sidon. The Sunni Salafist leader demanded that Hizballah banners be taken down, then tore down a poster of Hizballah’s leaders. Gunfire followed and people were killed. With the home front so insecure—and likely to be more so—Hizballah isn’t going to have the forces to spare to go after Israel.
--The New York Times continues its bizarre coverage of an Egypt in which the Muslim Brotherhood can do no wrong. There is a rather humorous aspect to the newspaper’s reasoning. The issue in question is the new Egyptian constitution, about whose text rumors are leaking, though only seeing the full draft text will be authoritative.
According to the Times, “the principles of Islamic law” would be the main source for Egypt’s legislation but the precise definition of what is or isn’t properly Islamic would be left to the parliament and courts. David Kirpatrick says:
“Little is expected to change under the current courts and Parliament — dominated by Islamists who mostly favor a relatively flexible or gradual approach to adopting Islamic law….”But…if literal-minded ultraconservatives—known as Salafis and who currently hold about a quarter of the seats in Parliament — gain more influence in the legislature and eventually the courts, they could someday use the provisions to try to impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law.”
In other words, as long as the Muslim Brotherhood holds most of the power there’s nothing to worry about, as if that movement doesn’t have the imposition of Sharia law as its main principle. How can having a parliament in which 75 percent of the seats are held by radical Islamists suggest that they aren’t going to impose Islamic law? And who’s going to be appointing the judges who make such determination in courts?
Yes, the wording might be similar to that of the old, pre-revolution constitution. But a Muslim Brotherhood regime is going to interpret things differently from a Western-oriented, anti-Islamist government.
The article continues that “liberal delegates who signed onto the deal noted that the guidelines were broad enough to leave substantial room for debate over just what Islamic law should require in the context of modern Egypt.” That’s true but many liberals boycotted the constitution-writing process precisely because they believed no such thing. And, again, who cares if there’s a debate when the debate will be settled by a Muslim Brotherhood president, an Islamist-dominated parliament, and increasingly an Islamist-dominated court system?
At any rate, I’ll wait until the full text is available for analyzing what the new Egyptian system will look like.

Lebanon's Arabic press digest - Nov. 17, 2012
November 17, 2012 /The Daily Star
Lebanon's Arabic press digest.
Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Saturday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
An-Nahar
A parliamentary session to [discuss] Gaza or to corner March 14?
Jumblatt expands efforts with opposition groups
Although the new Israeli war against Gaza united the Lebanese scene in a moment of consensus with condemnations of [Israeli] aggression and sit-ins in solidarity with the Palestinians against the war, the internal situation appeared vulnerable to political disputes between the two sides of the crisis.
Sources said House Speaker Nabih Berri intends to call on Parliament to convene if the Israeli attack against Gaza goes on in order to voice a unified stance in solidarity with the Palestinians.
According to the sources, Berri’s initiative stems from Lebanon’s close geographic location to Palestine and it is not a way to corner the March 14 coalition that has been boycotting the Cabinet of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and, according to Berri, “expanded the boycott to include the Parliament as well.”
Meanwhile, in parallel with the consultations held by President Michel Sleiman to find exits from the political crisis, Progressive Socialist Party Leader MP Walid Jumblatt launched a round of calls that will include all the parties of the opposition.
After contacting former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, and the Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya, Jumblatt is getting ready to contact the Kataeb party and the Lebanese Forces to discuss the possibility of establishing a national unity Cabinet that would include all parties.
Sources said that Jumblatt’s endeavor is getting the support of Hezbollah, Amal, and the head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun.
However, the March 8 coalition still rejects the opposition’s call to form a neutral salvation Cabinet, the sources said.
Al-Akhbar
Qatar calls for the resumption of 'communication' between the Lebanese
Amid internal wrangling on the issue of the government [crisis], Paris receives Prime Minister Najib Mikati, with a busy official schedule that will start from the Elysee [Palace].
While Washington has urged all [Lebanese] parties to exercise restraint and to respect the stability and security of Lebanon, Qatar called for the resumption of “communication” between the Lebanese [political parties].
Prior to his Paris visit, Mikati met with President Michel Sleiman and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly to discuss the political and security situation in Lebanon and the region.
For his part, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani said, following a meeting with Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami, that “the Lebanese should resume communication to confront the crisis storming the region.”
At the internal political level, the verbal confrontation between the March 8 and March 14 camps eased as events in Gaza drew the attention of both sides. The opposite sides condemned the Israeli aggression against Palestinian territories.
Future Movement MP Jean Ogassapian said the March 14 coalition was still discussing its participation in Parliament’s general session on Nov. 27 where Armenian President [Serzh Sargsyan] is expected to deliver a speech.
For his part, Future MP Ghazi Youssef said that the boycott of the [parliamentary] sessions was still ongoing as it affects Cabinet’s work.
Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan said that “boycotting the Parliament in order to overthrow the Cabinet is useless, given that the March 14 coalition is giving the Cabinet an alibi to act without supervision [over it].”
Al-Joumhouria
March 8 tries to pass agreements and appointments before the Cabinet leaves
While armed confrontations carry on in Syria and Paris gets ready to receive the head of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, Ahmad Moaz Khatib, the developments in Gaza remain at the forefront.
However, security [in Lebanon] remains a top priority and the Lebanese Army and security forces are completing their deployment in the southern city of Sidon and its surroundings.
Security sources said the Army boosted its presence in the region of Sidon by sending a military contingent and a commandos’ regiment to the area.
The sources stressed that the Army would always confront and suppress all breaches to security and intensify patrols and retaliate to fire whatever its source is.
Meanwhile, Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil signed a number of agreements with his Iranian counterpart, Majid Namjoo, who is on a visit to Lebanon. One of the signed agreements relates to launching work in establishing Balaa Dam in Batroun, despite legal objections to the project.
Activating such agreements comes right after Cabinet appointed members of the Petroleum Administration, which gives the impression that the March 8 coalition is trying to get appointments and agreements through before the Cabinet leaves.
Al-Mustaqbal
March 14: Hezbollah incites Sunni-Shiite strife and accuses others of doing so
Broad Lebanese condemnation of the brutal attack on Gaza
The fierce military campaign waged by the Israeli war machine on the Gaza Strip and the steadfast Palestinian people overshadowed the internal political situation and the sparring over Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah’s speech.
The March 14 coalition’s General-Secretariat Fares Souaid slammed the speech of Nasrallah and said such speeches were what cause strife in Lebanon.
Souaid said that Hezbollah is living in a state of confusion and looking for a solution to its problem with the Sunnis, and thus was accusing the other Christian partner of inciting strife.
According to Souaid, Hezbollah is putting the Lebanese in front of two choices: either they abide by the party’s point of view or he accuses them of treason as if they were all Israeli spies.

Hezbollah to March 14: End boycott, return to Dialogue
November 17, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Hezbollah lawmakers called late Friday on the March 14 alliance to desist in its attempts to bring down the Cabinet through a boycott of government and urged the opposition to return to Dialogue.
Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad, speaking at an Ashura commemoration ceremony late Friday, said his party wanted partnership in Lebanon and called on the March 14 coalition to give up on its boycott.
“We want partnership ... but keeping up this rhetoric of challenging [the government] and policy will not result in bringing down the Cabinet,” said Raad.
Following the Oct. 19 assassination of Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan, who headed the police’s Information Branch, the opposition decided to boycott all government-related work and said it would not resume Dialogue until Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s Cabinet resigned. It also called for the formation of a neutral salvation Cabinet that will supervise the 2013 parliamentary elections.
The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc urged the opposition to return to all-party talks.
“We can’t deny the opposition team has some positive aspects and we call on it to sit down at the [National] Dialogue table and discuss whatever it has to say,” he said.
The Hezbollah official went on to say that Lebanon could only advance through “the will of all parties.”
Raad said attempts by the March 14 coalition to topple the Cabinet were futile as Mikati’s government had outdone that of former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
“The March 14 coalition is no able to bring down this government that has achieved many successes despite all opposition to it,” he said.
Separately, Hezbollah MP Hasan Fadlallah said Friday evening that the Cabinet could only be toppled through legal and constitutional means.
“The opposition can bring down the Cabinet in Parliament but intimidation and pressure cannot change anything,” said Fadlallah.
He added that the government should carry on with its work to preserve the country’s stability and keep the security situation throughout the country under control.

Assir says suspends plans for military wing
By Mohammed Zaatari /The Daily Star
SIDON, Lebanon: Salafist Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir said Saturday he is suspending a decision to form a resistance brigade in the southern city of Sidon and would consult with religious scholars on the matter.
“It is very important to form a Sidon resistance brigade, but I am suspending my decision to discuss the issue with Muslim forces and sheikhs,” Assir said at a news conference in the southern city.
Addressing more than 500 people who had gathered to hear him, Assir explained that his decision to form a military wing stemmed from the frequent Israeli assaults against the southern city and the need for self-defense. Prior to the conference, Assir met with officials from the Jamaa al-Islamiya and Asbat al-Ansar Palestinian militant group, who both urged him to back off from his decision to form the military wing. Sources close to the officials said that after long consultations, the officials were eventually able to persuade Assir to suspend his decision, especially with the ongoing Israeli offense against the Gaza Strip. According to the sources, Assir said he accepted to back off from his decision “only for the sake of what is going on in Gaza,” and he is not dismissing the option to form an armed group.
An ongoing Israeli offensive against Gaza was launched Wednesday, in the fiercest violence between the two sides the Israeli assault of the Palestinian territory in 2008.
According to Assir, the Israeli assault on Gaza also prompted him to take the decision to form the brigade. He said that the current “so-called resistance [Hezbollah]” has not been defending Lebanon.
“Our resistance will be aimed against Israel, not like other resistance groups that have turned their weapons toward the internal scene,” he said.
Assir also accused Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah of committing murders with impunity in Lebanon and Syria in line with an Iranian agenda.
“I must admit to you that you have succeeded in forcing the state to fulfill your agenda, meaning Iran's,” said Assir, addressing Nasrallah.
He also warned that he has a blood score to settle with Hezbollah. “Blood can only be settled with blood,” Assir said. Following deadly clashes in Sidon last week in which two of Assir’s bodyguards were killed, media reports emerged saying Assir planned to form a military wing in Sidon. The clashes that broke out between supporters of the preacher and Hezbollah raised tension in the coastal city and prompted the Lebanese Army and security forces to expand their deployment in Sidon and take exceptional security measures in the city.

Sleiman says Dialogue must be unconditional
November 17, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman reiterated Saturday the need for rival Lebanese parties to participate in National Dialogue, adding that the talks should be unconditional and continuous.
Sleiman also received a letter from U.S. President Barack Obama congratulating him on Lebanon’s Independence Day.
“Dialogue should be unconditional and not just temporary,” said Sleiman, according to a statement from his press office.
The March 14 alliance has boycotted government as well as National Dialogue sessions that Sleiman relaunched mid this year.
The opposition group took the step after the recent assassination of a top security chief in a Beirut car bombing. They insist that a neutral salvation Cabinet be formed to replace Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government to oversee the upcoming elections. A dialogue session was originally scheduled on Nov. 12, but media reports said it had been delayed until Nov. 29 to allow time for consultations after the opposition March 14 coalition demanded the government’s resignation first as a condition for attending any talks with the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance.
Members of the March 8 coalition, including Hezbollah, have urged their rivals to end their boycott and return to the all-party talks, which Sleiman relaunched mid this year to discuss a national defense strategy and the divisive issue of Hezbollah's weapons. In early November, Sleiman told a Cabinet meeting that the doors were still open for the formation of a national unity government.
MP Fouad Siniora, the head of the Future parliamentary bloc, reiterated Saturday the call for the formation of a neutral salvation cabinet that would supervise the 2013 parliamentary elections.
According to a statement from his office, Siniora also said the present government was responsible for the deteriorating situation in the country. “The current Cabinet is responsible for the deteriorating situation in the country and thus it must step down,” said Siniora, according to the statement.
According to Sleiman’s office, the president also received Saturday a letter from Obama, congratulating him on the occasion of Lebanon’s Independence Day which falls on Nov. 22.
In the letter, Obama hailed Sleiman’s efforts to support the country’s sovereignty and stability, the statement said.
The letter said the U.S. highly appreciated its ties with Lebanon and its people and that amid both local and regional challenges facing the country, the Obama administration reiterated its support for the country’s sovereignty and stability. According to Sleiman’s office, the president also received Saturday a letter from Obama, congratulating him on the occasion of Lebanon’s Independence Day which falls on Nov. 22. In the letter, Obama hailed Sleiman’s efforts to support the country’s sovereignty and stability, the statement said.
The letter said the U.S. highly appreciated its ties with Lebanon and its people and that amid both local and regional challenges facing the country, the Obama administration reiterated its support for the country’s sovereignty and stability.

US: We want same thing as Israel wants
Yitzhak Benhorin 11.17.12 / Israel News/Ynetnews
White House official says Washington wants to see end to rocket attacks on Israel, expresses hope that Iron Dome would help bring about ceasefire
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama called Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to discuss how the two countries could help bring an end to escalating violence between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, a White House official said on Saturday. Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser, told reporters the United States "wants the same thing as the Israelis want," which is an end to rocket attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza. The United States is emphasizing diplomacy and "de-escalation" as keys to solving the conflict, Rhodes said.
He added that the US is taking diplomatic steps to bring about a lull and said that the Iron Dome system has played dramatic role in protecting Israeli citizens. Rhodes expressed hope that the system would increase chances of achieving a ceasefire without a ground operation in Gaza.
He further noted that President Obama will be regularly briefed on the situation while traveling in Asia.The White House stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself and to make its own military decisions. It was further emphasized that the US opposes any effort to provide arms to Hamas - a possible message to Iran.
Rhodes disputed that a precipitating factor was the Israeli air strike that Hamas' Ahmed Jabari.
“Just to be clear on the precipitating factor: These rockets had been fired into Israeli civilian areas and territory for some time now. So Israelis have endured far too much of a threat from these rocket for far too long and that is what led the Israelis to take the action that they did in Gaza.”
Asked about Israel targeting government buildings, including Haniyeh’s headquarters, Rhodes said: “We wouldn’t comment on specific targeting choices by the Israelis other than to say that we of course always underscore the importance of avoiding civilian casualties. But the Israelis again will make judgments about their military operations.”
Meanwhile, the US is stepping up security around Israeli and Jewish centers. Since Wednesday, New York City Police have beefed up security around the US Consulate in Manhattan.
Security guards were also placed at every synagogue in the city, according to CBS. On NBC, it was reported that despite the fact that there was no intelligence on plans to hit those targets, NYPD have also decided to step up security around the United Nations headquarters and various diplomatic missions in Manhattan.
Earlier on Saturday, Erdoan fiercely slammed Israel over Operation Pillar of Defense. Speaking at the Cairo University he said that Israel "was turning the region into a blood swamp." He further added, "Every drop of Palestinian blood is pouring from the veins of all Muslims and every tear dropping from their eyes is our tear too."
Prior to the speech, the Turkish prime minister met with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi whom he praised for recalling Egypt's ambassador from Tel Aviv.
After the meeting, Egypt's presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said that the two discussed the situation in Gaza as well as Cairo's efforts to "stop the Israeli aggression against Gaza."
Morsi told Erdogan that Egypt continues, together with other nations, to try and stop the aggression. Erdogan, it was reported, is set to meet with the Egyptian leader again later on Saturday.
The two were meant to sign a number of financial and diplomatic agreements. After the signing, Erdogan will hold a press conference together with his Egyptian counterpart, Hisham Kandil.
*Roi Kais and Reuters contributed to this report

Iron Dome intercepts Gaza missile over Tel Aviv
DEBKAfile Special Report November 17, 2012/ Missile alert sirens were heard across the Greater Tel Aviv area Saturday, Nov. 17, before the explosion caused by Iron Dome’s interception of one of the two rockets incoming from the Gaza Strip to Israel’s largest conurbation for the third day in a row. The second rocket landed harmlessly on open ground.
Hamas claimed to have launched Iran-made Fajr-5 long-range missile against Tel Aviv. The Iron Dome anti-missile battery, the fifth, was deployed for the first time in Greater Tel Aviv that morning as a defense for the Greater Tel Aviv area and Jerusalem. Jerusalem came within Hamas missile radius for the first time Friday night.
debkafile reported Friday.
Signs of an approaching full-scale war increased Friday afternoon, Nov. 16. The IDF obtained government approval to call up reserves in addition to the 30,000 already approved. Hospitals across the country were placed on emergency footing and patients not needing urgent treatment were sent home. The security cabinet meets urgently after 550 Palestinian rockets fired in three days. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv were targeted Friday by Hamas which reported firing two “homemade M-75” missiles each at Israel’s capital and commercial hub. There were no casualties in either town.
The Jerusalem siren was heard in outlying towns Mevaseret Zion, Motza Ilit, Beitar Ilit, Kibbutz Maaleh Hahamisha, Ora and Har Adar.
Israeli ground forces continue to stand by on the Gaza border awaiting government orders to go in.
debkafile reported earflier Friday: As Hamas government officials greeted Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Kandil on his arrival for a short visit to the Gaza Strip, Friday morning, Nov. 16, Palestinian rocket crews stepped up their barrage against Israel. After Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu acceded to Cairo’s request to suspend military action for the visit, air strikes were resumed over northern Gaza to counter Palestinians fire across the South: Dozens of rockets exploded in Beersheba, Ashdod, Hof Ashkelon, Ashkelon, Shear Hanegev, Ofakim, Sderot, Eshkol and Kiryat Malachi. There were several panic victims and direct hits to houses. Thursday night, long-range Fajr rockets exploded in Greater Tel Aviv region, Israel’s urban and commercial heartland (3 million population) – two landing near Bat Yam or the sea and one or two between Rishon Lezion and Palmachim. IDF armored, artillery and mechanized infantry units continued to stream to the Gaza border Thursday and Friday, gathering at jumping-off positions for crossing into the enclave in the next stage of the operation. Reservists are reporting for duty on the orders the defense minister issued for 30,000 call-ups. They are reporting at schools in various towns which were converted to registration stations.
Schools in the heavily battered south remain closed indefinitely and all locations within 40 kilometers stay on emergency footing for rocket attacks.
The IDF is rushing forward the completion of the fifth Iron Dome battery after the first four stopped some 150 incoming rockets in the last 48 hours.
debkafile: Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz and the high IDF command are pushing for the ground operation, Stage B of the Pillar of Cloud operation, to start without delay. The prime minister and defense minister prefer to wait. Thursday night, as the operation wound up its second day, the Israeli Air Force intensified its action, conducting 250 strikes across the territory, supported from the Mediterranean by the Israeli Navy. They targeted rocket-launching positions, stores, silos, arms and ordnance dumps and the eight tunnels snaking under the border fence for use in terrorist attacks and exploding booby-traps. A generator was hit near the residence of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Our sources report that Thursday, some international airlines cancelled flights to Israel. International airline officials told debkafile that security in central Israel is uncertain after Palestinian rockets from Gaza reached the Tel Aviv area. They fear Ben Gurion international airport at Lod may be next. The sources noted that the landing of a rocket in the sea off Bat Yam posed a serious aviation hazard because it occurred under the flight path of passenger planes bound for and departing Israel. Intense Israeli Air Force activity over Gaza was making commercial flights additionally “hazardous if not impossible,” they said. Air France was the first to reschedule flights and advise passengers to call in before setting out for their airport of departure.
Also on Thursday, the US embassy in Tel Aviv advised its nationals and staff to avoid non-essential travel to southern Israel and the children of staff to stay home from their schools in the Tel Aviv area.
A skeleton staff would operate the embassy with most of the diplomats and personnel taking the day off and staying home for their own safety, in case Yarkon Street where the building is situated were to come under Palestinian rocket fire.

Cairo not mediator, standing with Palestinians - Egypt Ambassador to Palestine
16/11/2012/By Mohammed Abdul Raouf
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat – Speaking exclusively to Asharq Al-Awsat, Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Osman, has stressed that Cairo is not a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, but stands firmly on the Palestinian side. He added that Egypt is undertaking every effort to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, confirming that the Israeli side initiated the conflict and that the actions on the part of the Palestinian factions are nothing more than self-defense. The Egyptian ambassador, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat by telephone from Ramallah, also asserted that “the diplomatic and political actions that are being taken by Egypt aim to provide support to the Gaza Strip, whilst we also sent a message to the Israeli side regarding the need to stop the aggression.”
Egyptian presidential spokesman Dr. Yasser Ali announced on Wednesday that President Mohamed Mursi had taken the decision to recall the country’s ambassador to Israel in response to the Israeli air strikes targeting the Gaza Strip. Mursi also ordered the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to summon Israel’s ambassador to Cairo to issue an official protest against Israel’s actions. Speaking to Egyptian state TV, the Egyptian presidential spokesman said “President Mursi has followed the Israeli brutal assault in which a number of martyrs and sons of the Palestinian people were killed. On this basis, he has recalled the Egyptian ambassador from Israel; has ordered the Egyptian representative at the United Nations to call for an emergency meeting of the Security Council…and summoned the Israeli ambassador in Egypt to protest over the assault.” For his part, Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Osman, said that “one of Egypt’s objectives is to put an immediate end to this aggression because it is not in anybody’s interests for this aggression to continue and for more Palestinian blood to be shed.” Osman also denied the Israeli media reports that Tel Aviv had asked for Egyptian mediation for a ceasefire following the killing of Hamas commander Ahmed al-Jabari, stressing that “Egypt is not a mediator; we are on the Palestinian side to stop the Israeli attacks against it.” He added that Cairo has called for Arab and international intervention to stop the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians, adding “Egypt is primarily concerned with stopping the aggression, before talking about any ceasefire.”
The Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority also denied that Cairo was in contact with the Palestinian factions to stop the rocket fire into Israel as a step on the road to a ceasefire. He told Asharq Al-Awsat “the Israeli side began the aggression, and what the Palestinian resistance factions are doing is self-defense.” He added “it is up to the party that began the aggression to stop this."
Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil conducted a three-hour visit to the Gaza Strip on Friday during which he condemned Israel’s aggression on Gaza as a “disaster.” Qandil visited the Council of Ministers building Gaza City, as well as a hospital treating those wounded in the attacks.
The Egyptian Prime Minister said “what I am witnessing in Gaza is a disaster and I can’t keep quiet. The Israeli aggression must stop.” He also insisted that “Egypt will spare no effort ... to stop the aggression and to achieve a truce." Israeli deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon also indicated that Tel Aviv would be interested in a ceasefire, telling Israeli radio “if Hamas says it understands the message and commits to a long ceasefire via the Egyptians or anyone else, this is what we want. We want quiet in the south and a strong deterrence.”
He added “the Egyptians have been a pipeline for passing messages. Hamas always turns (to them) to request a ceasefire. We are in contact with the Egyptian defense ministry…and it could be a channel in which a ceasefire is reached.” However it seems clear that Egypt’s foreign relations approach has changed significantly since the ouster of the Mubarak regime and the election of a Muslim Brotherhood-backed president. President Mohamed Mursi, speaking on Friday, stressed that Cairo “will not leave Gaza on its own” and called Israel’s attacks on the territory “a blatant aggression against humanity.” Whilst protesters gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square calling for the downfall of Israel, adapting a popular Arab Spring slogan. Mursi made the comments in a speech following Friday prayers. He stressed that “Cairo will not leave Gaza on its own…Egypt today is not the Egypt of yesterday, and Arabs today are not the Arabs of yesterday.”

Al-Jabari killed just hours after receiving draft truce agreement - Israeli mediator
16/11/2012/By Nazir Majali
Tel Aviv, Asharq Al-Awsat – Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin, who served as an intermediary between Hamas and Tel Aviv during the negotiations over the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas commander Ahmed al-Jabari had been killed just hours after receiving the draft of a permanent truce with Israel. He said that al-Jabari’s assassination represented the assassination of any real chance for a truce between Hamas and Israel, adding that a permanent truce deal had been in very advanced stages prior to al-Jabari's death and that the Hamas commander had received the Arabic-language version of this truce just hours before he was killed.
Baskin claimed that Hamas and Israel had never been closer to a permanent truce than just prior to al-Jabari’s assassination, which began days of intense missile and rocket fire resulting so far in the deaths of 19 Palestinians, six of them children, and 3 Israeli civilians. He described the assassination as a “grievous mistake” by the Israelis, adding “whoever took the decision to launch this war did not think about tomorrow…this is a war without clear goals.”
The Israeli peace activist, who has served as an intermediary between Tel Aviv and Hamas, revealed that he had noticed an important change in al-Jabari over the past year, namely that the Hamas commander was ready to renounce armed action in return for an advantageous truce with Israel. He stressed that after the Muslim Brotherhood came to power in Egypt and other Arab states, al-Jabari had begun to think like a political official who has responsibility to the ordinary people, and this prompted him to be more open to accepting a truce with Israel.
He added that following his success, along with others, in securing a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit, he remained in contact with both parties as well as Egyptian officials with the objective of reaching a truce agreement between Hamas and Israel. Baskin revealed that he had been in Egypt just last week as part of his work to implement this truce agreement, adding that he had drafted a truce agreement that provided for the cessation of all hostilities between Hamas and Israel for an indefinite period of time. He informed Israeli parties of this truce agreement, and sent the text of the agreement to the Hamas leadership, however this was prior to al-Jabari’s assassination that most likely puts an end to such hopes. Baskin added that he had prepared a second truce agreement that was simpler and which formalized an initial 3 – 6 month truce, which would be extended if successful.
Baskin revealed that through his contacts with the Egyptian and Israeli sides, he was aware that this truce agreement had been circulated amongst the Hamas leadership in recent days, although al-Jabari had only received his copy of this on the morning of the day of his death.
Asharq Al-Awsat asked the Israeli peace activist for his analysis regarding Tel Aviv’s action in this regard, namely proposing a truce at the same time as planning an assassination operation. Baskin replied that “to be frank, I cannot say if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak were aware of the extent of the progress in the discussions with Hamas and that this was nothing more than a ruse.” As for who he is in contact with in Israel, Baskin said he had been in contact with “senior officials…including those who sit in on meetings of the security cabinet meetings.”
He added “I began this mediation a year ago, immediately following the release of Gilad Shalit and the Palestinian prisoners. I met with Ehud Barak and provided him with a copy of the truce agreement. He told me that he would take the issue very seriously, and a committee was established that included ministers and other concerned parties. However the Israeli government froze the process and took the decision not to decide…and in recent months I took the initiative to push this issue once more, and began to mediate with both sides again.”
The Israel peace activist stressed that Netanyahu and Barak were therefore aware, at least to some extent, about the existence of a truce agreement. He asserted that “the only thing that I am certain of is that we have a leadership that takes “genius” decisions without thinking about the next day.”
He added “as for this war that they began by assassinating the strongest figure in Hamas, they did not think about how it could develop, or shall we say deteriorate, or how many people will be killed for no reason." He stressed that “nobody knows how this situation will develop now, and by some fluke a Palestinian rocket could hit a bus full of people and dozens could be killed, or an Israeli air raid could mistakenly target a Palestinian funeral killing dozens or even hundreds.” Baskin told Asharq Al-Awsat “everybody must know that such incidents which could lead to the deaths of innocents on both sides could be prevented by mediation to reach a truce agreement.”As for whether he believes that the Egyptians could intervene to mediate a ceasefire, Baskin said “I have been in contact with Egyptian parties…and I understand that the Egyptians are very angry about the Israeli military actions as they were about the [Palestinian] firing of rockets. They say that they would first prefer for the situation to calm on both sides and do not see this as the right time to intervene.”Asharq Al-Awsat also asked the Israeli peace activist what he knew about al-Jabari, he replied “he was a man with sweeping powers, a leader in every sense of the word. He was sincere in seeking a truce, and he played a large role in stopping the rocket fire into Israel by Palestinian factions. Even when Hamas was firing rockets, he made sure that these rockets landed in open spaces so that there were no human casualties.” He added “I would like to say that after al-Jabari’s assassination there will be no address to Israel regarding seeking a ceasefire or truce. For Hamas now requires some time to replace al-Jabari.” Returning to his description of the Israeli air strikes against the Gaza Strip as a “war without goals”, he made reference to the four objectives put forward by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, saying “these are misleading goals. For when he says that he wants to eliminate the missile batteries, how will he know that this has been achieved? And when he says he want to eliminate the terrorist leadership, who can guarantee that they won’t be replaced by even more radical enemies? Barak’s talk is based on exploiting the simple nature of the public and their enthusiasm for killing the enemy, however anybody who looks closely at what he and Netanyahu is saying will find that they are leading the country into a dangerous [military] adventure and unnecessarily causing the deaths of innocent people.”

The solution to Gaza…return to Syria!
By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Al-Awsat
Unfortunately, wars in our region have become like a race, so each war is to cover another one. In other words, these wars are nothing more than a move to escape forward. Therefore what is happening in Gaza is escaping forward, particularly in the hope of saving al-Assad or at least ensuring that the cost of toppling him will be greater for everybody. The greatest architect of such wars is Iran, from the unmanned Ayoub drone, not to mention all the attempts in the Sinai Peninsula. When the Golan front did not move quickly enough for al-Assad and Iran, they resorted to the Gaza front, because this can be inflamed far quicker, whilst it is also easier for Israel in this regard.
For Israel, Gaza is like a punching bag that can be used for training and muscle flexing, whilst success in Gaza would strike several “files” in one go. In Gaza, Tel Aviv is able to crush Hamas and embarrass Egypt and Mursi, who will be the biggest loser in this battle, no matter what he does. This is because if Mursi succeeds politically he will lose his popularity and vice versa, that is of course unless the Egyptian president is able to pull off a political miracle that reflects his cunning. However his choices are severely limited. As for Israel, striking Gaza sends a strong message to al-Assad and clips Iran’s wings, particularly in the event that there is an Israeli strike on Iran. Above all else, Israel striking Gaza strengthens Netanyahu’s chances at the forthcoming elections.
Very well, but what about Syria? Now, the best solution to get out of this war – or air strikes – in Gaza is to return to Syria, and strongly, for whoever is responsible for the launch of the home-made rockets in Gaza did this whilst being well aware that there is no equivalence. The whole purpose of this was to save al-Assad, whose days are numbered; indeed his ouster is just around the corner! This is also a war to distract the Arab parties, particularly as we have seen a series of outbidding today. Therefore the Arabs have been unable to ask the fundamental question, namely: who incited the Gaza front? And why now? This is an essential question, particularly as Hassan Nasrallah is calling on the Arabs to pressure the US to stop the aggression. So why isn’t Nasrallah asking the agents of Iran in Gaza to stop pushing the Gaza Strip into the unknown? Why did he, and Iran, not ask al-Assad to stop the violence against the people of Syria? This is a series of outbidding, and everybody is playing this game.
What I want to say here is: who knows what will happen? The magic may turn against the magician, for the armed Palestinian groups in Gaza, including Hamas, do not want to continue the fighting, because they are incapable of this, whilst Israel does not want to prolong this aggression because it believes it has already made achievements, and on several levels. As for Mursi’s Egypt, it does not want, nor can it bear, this crisis; nor does the international community want this either.
Therefore, the best way to escape from Gaza now is to quickly return to Syria, for the Gaza fire was the result of an al-Assad spark, and from here the magic may turn against the magician, particularly as everybody is convinced of the threat represented by the al-Assad regime and the need to topple it. The solution to Gaza is to return to Syria, and accelerate the ouster of the criminal regime of the tyrant of Damascus.

Kuwait: The dangers of street politics
16/11/2012/By Amir Taheri
Asharq Alawsat
Ever since its independence in 1960 Kuwait has been something of a curiosity as a political model.
A mixture of a traditional power-structure centered on the ruling family and its allies in tribal and merchant clans on the one hand and electoral politics on the other; that model is hard to categorize in the context of Arab politics. Nevertheless, for decades, it proved flexible enough to weather numerous storms, including invasion and occupation by Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Middle East experts might argue that vast oil revenues played the key role in that configuration. That, however, does not tell the whole story. Kuwait had developed a system of consensual politics from the 19th century onwards, long before the oil bonanza. Timid, but ultimately important steps, towards broadening the base of decision-making were taken even before independence. The emergence of political, social and cultural clubs, the expansion of relatively free media and creative tension between parliament and government helped define a Kuwaiti brand of politics.
Thus, Kuwait has been different from most other Arab countries in a number of ways. It has never had an opposition in exile because dissidents are able to express their views at home, often in the media and/or the parliament.
Nor has Kuwait earned notoriety for filling prisons with dissidents. Years ago, news that a university teacher had been imprisoned for “insulting religion” electrified Kuwait. I happened to be there and asked to visit the prisoner. A friend suggested that we drive to the “prison” which turned out to be a house where our prisoner was comfortably installed with full amenities and, when we arrived, was already receiving his numerous friends. Endless cups of Arabic coffee were served as we discussed the situation. A few days later, he was released.
No Kuwaiti high official could assume the peacock-like arrogance of his counterparts in many other Arab countries. On average, with one or two exceptions, most Kuwaiti ministers are chased out of office after 14 months. Kuwaitis don’t have the faintest idea of what tyranny, in force in so many Middle Eastern countries, really means.
So, why would anyone want to inject a dose of insurrectionary politics into the Kuwaiti system - and that on the eve of the general election on 1 December? People opt for insurrectionary politics for two reasons. First, they fear that their voice cannot be heard within institutional politics. The media is closed to them and they cannot voice their grievances in the parliament. Well, as already noted that does not apply to Kuwait. The second reason is that they know they could not win power through elections in the context of institutional politics.
Right now, the group most active in trying to inject a dose of insurrectionary politics is Hadas, the Kuwaiti branch of Muslim Brotherhood.
The group knows that Kuwait’s demographic mix would not allow it to score the kind of electoral victory needed for radical change. There is no configuration under which Hadas, though likely to win a large number of seats, could secure a straight majority in parliament.
That analysis is confirmed by recent elections in Morocco, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt where the Brotherhood’s core support was seldom more than than a quarter of the electorate.
Wisdom dictates that Hadas, and with it the Brotherhood throughout the region, temper their appetite for power. The Brotherhood should not try to bite off more than it can chew. Nor should it jettison the grudging respect that it has earned, deservedly or not, because of the relative moderation it has shown in the “Arab Spring” countries. A decade ago, the Sudanese politician Hassan al-Turabi spoke of his dream that, one day, Islamists would capture Kuwait and use its oil wealth to advance their agenda. Though almost surrealistic today, that dream may still be alive in some heads in and beyond Kuwait.
Other factors, including personal ambitions, may also be involved.
It is not difficult to play heroics in Kuwait because you could always be sure that whatever you do as a political activist nothing really bad is going to happen to you or your family.
In politics doing something unnecessary could be worse than making a terrible mistake. In Kuwait there is no need for street politics, opposing insurrection to institutional reform. Street politics could harm the model that Kuwaitis have built. It could undermine the citizens’ confidence in pursuing reform through consensual politics. That, in turn, could produce two opposite trends: one in favor of dictatorship, the other in support of semi-organized anarchy witnessed in many Third World countries. Prudence dictates that Kuwaiti politics be guided towards reform. The parliament has often been a kind of political souk in which members have blackmailed ministers, and at times even the whole Cabinet, while the government has tried to advance its agenda by bribing the parliamentarians.
The predominance of individual, clannish and sectarian interests has slowed down the emergence of a sense of common interest. That, in turn, has hampered the process of decision-making, preventing Kuwait from making full use of its potentials. The electoral system in place is far from flawless and the absence of political parties encourages sectarianism.
Also, a great deal of corruption is built into the system. A few years ago, I was amazed to hear parliamentarians passionately demanding the cancellation of all debts up to a certain level, a move that could have bankrupted the Kuwaiti banks. Thus, cleaning the stables remains a major task. Kuwait’s national security, even survival, depends, at least in part, on maintaining a consensual system in which basic freedoms are guaranteed. Despite dramatic changes in the political atmosphere of the region, Kuwait must remain vigilant against rapacious powers close and far. At a moment of danger, a Kuwait suffocating in an obscurantist system would not be able to call on the outside world to come to its defense as it did in 1990.
Boycotting the electoral process where reasonably clean elections are possible, could only mean a vote for despotism in the name of ideology.

Saud al-Faisal's conditions
17/11/2012/by Emad El Din Adeeb
Asharq Akawsat
I was only too delighted to see Prince Saud al-Faisal, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, in good health in Cairo after he recovered and returned from his recuperation trip. I remember that he once told me "I spend more time in aircrafts than on the ground." It is such a long and bitter journey; one that is full of experiences, mediations, negotiations, crisis-management, narrowing gaps between viewpoints, drafting political statements and diplomatic formalities. This all is part of Prince Saud's journey. Therefore, I paused extensively to meditate the statement he issued in Cairo earlier this week regarding the situation in Syria. He said “the major condition for the success of any effort towards the Syrian crisis requires that there is a serious will to put an end to the escalating human disaster there."
"Serious will" is the major condition in the view of the Saudi Foreign Minister, and I believe that by stressing this he hit the nail on the head.
I was skeptical, but now I am quite certain that, there is no international will to end Bashar al-Assad's massacres and that international powers have left the situation open to one of three possible scenarios:
1. One side defeats the other.
2. The Alawite sect ends Dr. Bashar al-Assad’s rule after his presence becomes a real burden on it.
3. We see an "international barter" agreement take place, particularly as this is currently being prepared and where the toppling of the al-Assad regime is just one of its articles.
In order to explain this situation, I must highlight a set of international movements in this regard.
Firstly, Moscow has announced that President Barack Obama has accepted an invitation by his Russian counterpart, President Putin, to visit Moscow and conduct negotiations.
To this effect, the press has leaked reports that Obama promised Putin that should he win a second term in office, he would negotiate with him on reaching an agreement regarding the controversial “missile defense” issue.
Here, we can understand a possible barter taking place between Moscow and Washington.
Secondly, the Washington Post recently published a report about the US administration's desire to conduct negotiations with Tehran over a number of issues, including Iran's nuclear capabilities, peace in the Middle East, as well as Syria and Hezbollah. These are all issues where negotiations and political bartering may take place.
The situation now indicates that we are in a stage of strengthening the international will, but in accordance with the interests of the superpowers and within the boundaries of a specific price with a specific ceiling. This price does not include any humanitarian considerations or the cessation of bloodshed, but first and foremost “what will you give me? What will I give you in return?” regarding whether al-Assad leaves or stays.
This is why Prince Saud al-Faisal insisted in an eloquent and polite manner – as usual – that there must be a "serious" international will in this regard.

Other Zawahiri supports Qaeda “Caliphate” call
15/11/2012/By Abdul Sattar Hatita
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat – Egyptian jihadist Mohamed al-Zawahiri announced his support for the call issued by his brother , Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, for Muslims to work to establish an Islamic Caliphate, rejecting nation states. Mohamed al-Zawahiri, who currently resides in Cairo and is a well-known Egyptian Islamist, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “we want to guide Egypt to the Islamic association because this is stronger than the national association.” However he stressed that the Al Qaeda leader’s message does not mean the end of his offer to mediate a peace between Al Qaeda and the West.
In a statement by Ayman al-Zawahiri entitled “Supporting Islam” posted by Al Qaeda’s publishing arm on an Islamist website, the Al Qaeda chief called on Muslims to work to re-establish an Islamic Caliphate that “does not recognize nation state, national links or the border imposed by the occupiers, but establishes a rightly guided caliphate following in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad.”
The statement added “these are the objectives of the Document of Supporting Islam, and we call on all those who believe in them to call for them, support them and try to spread them in every way possible among the people of the nation.”
The Al Qaeda chief also called on Muslims to work together to liberate Muslim lands from occupiers, rejecting any deal that gives “infidels” the right to control Muslim lands.
He added that this included what he referred to as the British Mandate Palestine – present day Israel and the Palestinian territories – as well as Russia’s Chechnya and other parts of the Caucasus region, Indian-controlled Kashmir, the Spanish-ruled North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which are claimed by Morocco and East Turkestan in China’s north-western Xinjiang region.
As for whether he supports his brother’s call in this regard, Mohamed al-Zawahiri told Asharq Al-Awsat “of course…I support anything connected with Islamic Sharia law. I support him not because he is my brother, but because his call is in line with the principles of Islamic Sharia law.” He added “this has all been confirmed by Islamic Sharia law…and if he [Ayman al-Zawahiri] were to violate this, we would retreat from him in this case.”
Mohamed al-Zawahiri stressed that he continues to believe in the jihadist Salafist ideology, adding that he remains committed to his offer to mediate a peace between the West and Islamists. He stressed that Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri’s most recent call to establish an Islamic Caliphate did not constitute an escalation, adding this is a call that “represents an expression of Islamic hope, and some of this can be achieved now and others later.” He stressed that “these are all objectives in line with Islamic Sharia law.”
Mohamed al-Zawahiri previously sent a six-page peace proposal to CNN, in which he put forward a peace plan between the West and Islamists. In an exclusive interview with CNN, the “other” al-Zawahiri had offered to serve as an intermediary between the Islamists and the United States and the West, stressing that if anybody can talk his brother – Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri – out of violence, it’s him. This peace plan contains a number of pre-conditions, including America ceasing to intervene in Muslim lands and education and Washington ending its “war on Islam” and releasing all Islamist prisoners. The peace plan also called on Islamists to cease attacking western and US interests, stop provoking the US and the West, and even protect legitimate western and US interests in Muslim lands.
Commenting on the Al Qaeda chief’s call, Mohamed al-Zawahiri also told Asharq Al-Awsat that “this is not incompatible with the peace plan that we put forward to the west, for if it stops interfering in our affairs, we will stop interfering in its affairs.”
Responding to a question regarding the influence that Ayman al-Zawahiri’s call could have on the stability of Egypt, particularly in light of the clashes between Islamist jihadists and security forces in the Sinai Peninsula, Mohamed al-Zawahiri asserted that “this will have no influence whatsoever in this regard, however the call was to put in place the fundamental principles so that the principal rights of the Islamic ummah are not lost.”
As for whether this call represented a threat to a nation-state like Egypt, he said “today, the Egyptian constitution and approach is being drafted, and at this stage we want to confirm that the Islamic religion, faith and association is stronger than the national association, although this does not mean by any means the abolition of the national association…however there is a wider association that has been ignored over the past decades, and this is the religion association.”
Mohamed al-Zawahiri was a senior member of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad group in the late 1970s. He was arrested against the backdrop of the assassination of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, spending a total of 14 years in prison. After his release, he left the country, living abroad in numerous countries across the Arab world including Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates. He was convicted and sentenced to death in absentia in 1998 in the “Returnees from Albania” case. Al-Zawahiri returned to Egypt following the ouster of the Hosni Mubarak regime on 11 February 2011. He was arrested on his return, but acquitted of all charges against him by military tribunal last March.