The Independent Retrial for Al Jazeera journalists: The 'gates of hope' may have opened, but the media is still shut out of Egypt An Arab military autocrat has locked up three innocent reporters for more than a year - and got away with it Yes, but. That's the only way to react to the news from Cairo. Yes, it's good news there's to be a retrial of the three Al Jazeera journos fraudulently banged up in Cairo's Tora prison for more than a year. But they weren't freed today as their colleagues hoped. Yes, the Egyptian appeal court reported flaws in their original hearing. But they still won't be given bail. Yes, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi could order the deportation of two of them. But he hasn't done that. Most important of all, yes, the "gates of hope" – a new mantra used in the Al Jazeera studios in Qatar today – have been opened. But the damage has been done. An Arab military autocrat has locked up three innocent reporters for more than a year – and got away with it. Neither the anger of the world's press nor the mini-mouse roar of President Obama has induced al-Sisi to abandon this charade. Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/retrial-for-al-jazeera-journalists-the-gates-of-hope-may-have-opened-but-the-media-is-still-shut-out-of-egypt-9953461.html The Financial Times Egypt proves best destination for stock market investors Egypt was 2014's best destination for stock market investors, producing a total return including dividends and share price rises of more than 30 per cent in a year in which the US led equity rallies in developed economies. In spite of the Egyptian army coup, which toppled the democratically elected government of the Muslim Brotherhood 18 months ago, the MSCI index for Egypt has almost doubled since mid-2013. Read more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5124a63a-90f6-11e4-8134-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3NeEVSuPj World Bulletin Egypt's Brotherhood to choose representatives abroad Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood will set up a committee to oversee the affairs of its members based overseas, according to sources within the embattled Islamist group. "A seven-member crisis-management body will be set up to represent the four main countries to which Brotherhood members have fled following the military coup," a leading group member told the Anadolu Agency, referring to the Egyptian army's ouster of elected president and Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi in mid-2013. The Brotherhood leader, requesting anonymity, said committee members would be elected within one week. Another Brotherhood leader who fled to next-door Sudan said that Brotherhood members had already elected a representative in that country. The group leader, who also asked to remain anonymous, said that representatives' names would not be disclosed publicly amid an ongoing crackdown by Egyptian authorities that he described as the worst in the group's 86-year history. Read more: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/152043/egypts-brotherhood-to-choose-representatives-abroad The Times of Israel Palestine at the ICC: A headache Israel might be able to live with Jerusalem reacted angrily Wednesday to the Palestinians' decision to join the International Criminal Court, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of "steps in response." Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had long threatened to make this move, which many considered his doomsday device against Israel. But those who are familiar with the workings of the Hague-based court know that the route to convicting Israelis for war crimes or crimes against humanity is long and complicated. According to some experts, it is unlikely that the ICC would even launch criminal proceedings against prominent Israelis for actions and policies vis-à-vis the Palestinians. Even if it did, and eventually issued indictments, it would take many years before any convictions were handed down. In the best-case scenario for Israel, the Palestinians' intended complaints against Israeli officials will be little more than a nuisance, causing some bad press. And will the ICC advance the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestine, presumably Abbas's prime goal? Not a bit. Contrary to what some headlines have suggested, Abbas will not be able to sue Israel at the ICC. It's a criminal court, which means that only the prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, can decide who gets indicted. What the Palestinians can do is submit complaints to the court — which they have actually been doing for years. To date, the court has not had jurisdiction over the territory on which the alleged crimes occurred. Read more: http://www.timesofisrael.com/palestine-at-the-icc-a-headache-israel-might-be-able-to-live-with/ Haaretz Saudi leader of largest Islamic bloc to visit Jerusalem The world's largest bloc of Islamic countries says its secretary general will make his first official visit to east Jerusalem on January 5 and visit one of Islam's holiest sites. Saudi-born Iyad Madani became secretary general in January last year. The OIC said Thursday that Madani will visit the Al-Aqsa mosque compound after meeting in Ramallah with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.634962
