Hazem Khairat: End of a three-year vacancy Ambassador Hazem Khairat arrived in Tel Aviv to start his tenure as Egypt's new ambassador to Israel last Friday. Commenting on the news, the Foreign Ministry said that the return of the Egyptian ambassador to Israel should be seen in the context of the “important task of supporting the Palestinian cause. “The ambassador will be corresponding with the different parties in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, especially in the upcoming period,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said this week. He linked Khairat's return to Egypt taking its seat as a non-permanent UN Security Council member at the start of the year, and to the fact that it would use its new position to further support the Palestinian cause. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the arrival of the Egyptian ambassador to Israel, saying that it would enable Tel Aviv to further strengthen relations with “this important and central Arab country”. The post had been vacant for over three years. Egypt recalled its ambassador in November 2012 to protest an Israeli offensive against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Israel reopened its embassy in Cairo in September 2015, four years after it was attacked by a crowd protesting the death of five Egyptian policemen at the hands of Israeli forces reportedly chasing a group of Gaza militants. Khairat succeeded Atef Salem, who arrived in Tel Aviv in October 2012. He was summoned one month later. Khairat has occupied the post of Egypt's former permanent representative to the Arab League and was Egypt's ambassador to Chile. His appointment was announced in June. “Egyptians have special wishes in 2016. Chief among them is that the year should witness an economic boom on all levels including the agricultural, industrial and architectural, all across Egypt. They also hope that this boom will be accompanied by comprehensive human development. In addition, they wish 2016 could see an effective fight against terrorism and the closing of all doors in the face of terrorists sneaking into the country.” Mohamed Barakat, Al-Akhbar New rules “The president and the government will enter a new phase that has new rules in 2016. It is the phase of dealing with an elected parliament that has the authority of legislation and that of oversight in addition to unprecedented authorities granted by the constitution at the expense of those of the government and the president. Thus, dealing with the issue of the relation between the government and the parliament and that of the president and the parliament requires wisdom and careful calculation.” Emadeddin Adib, Al-Watan 25 January Revolution “There are fears among many Egyptians that a new revolution will erupt on 25 January. There are three factors that justify this fear. First, the social media networks are playing a pivotal role in inciting a revolution, though they are not enough on their own to start a revolution. Secondly, there has been economic decline and price hikes, though there are wide social sectors still willing to support the regime. Thirdly, anger is spreading among the young because of the human rights record, though it does not have much of a popular support base.” Yasser Abdel-Aziz, Al-Masry Al-Youm “It's a shame that the anniversary of the 25 January Revolution is being treated with all that fear, as if celebrating it was banned! Any attempts to hide the facts or tarnish the picture of the revolution and present it as if it was a catastrophe or an international conspiracy that was hatched by external parties — chief among them is the Muslim Brotherhood — are clearly intended to obscure the truth.” Naguib Sawiris, Al-Akhbar What is the priority? “Starting last Friday, Egypt has assumed its role as one of the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council in 2016-17. This news may pass unnoticed by some on the pretext that internal matters are a priority. But in fact, resolving internal issues cannot be separated from the state's external role. The more a state's word is heard on the international level, the greater its internal gain.” Al-Ahram Egyptian Essence: PT8 rise in 2016 “The US dollar welcomed the new year with an eight-piastre rise in the black market. That rise was ascribed to an increase in demand by exporters.” Al-Watan Facebook “Happy new year to Egypt, in spite of everything. I bid 2014 farewell with this message. I use the same words at the end of 2015 without changing one letter. I pray that God should protect Egypt and the Egyptians. Amen.” Hazem Hosny “Forty-seven people were executed in Saudi Arabia. The most interesting thing in such bad news is that Saudi Arabia, which finances terrorism everywhere in the world, accused them of terrorism. Nemr Al-Nemr, one of those executed, was a reformist who tried to incite people to confront injustice regardless of their religion or sect. He was against the Sunni Saudi regime and the Shia Assad regime at the same time.” Zyad Elelaimy Twitter Ekram Ibrahim @ekramibrahim This is huge! Saudi Arabia breaks off ties with Iran after al-Nimr execution. Borzou Daragahi @borzou Iran IRGC vows “harsh revenge” against Saudi over execution of Nimr; calls it part of “Zionist conspiracy”. Negar @NegarMortazavi Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran. Attacking their embassy is unacceptable, but seems like Saudis were also waiting for an excuse. Dr. Majid Rafizadeh @Dr_Rafizadeh Iran didn't know those Basijis were going 2 attack #Saudi embassy? Seriously?!? Who r we kidding?
