Reuters Gaza militants condemn Egypt's branding of Hamas as terror group In a statement read by a masked gunman, 10 armed Palestinian factions jointly condemned on Thursday an Egyptian decision to list the military wing of the Islamist group Hamas as a terrorist organization. That decision prompted a source close to the Brigades to say that Egypt, which has mediated several past ceasefires between Israel and the Palestinians, including a truce to end a 50-day Gaza war last summer, could no longer be trusted as an impartial player. In the statement read aloud by the gunman in Gaza, the 10 armed groups said that their fight was only with Israel and they had never taken the battle outside the region encompassing Israel and the Palestinian territories. As well as the Qassam Brigades, the statement was signed by Islamic Jihad, the Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a Salafi group called Swords of Islam, and five other factions. Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-palestinians-egypt-hamas-idUSKBN0L91W920150205 Today Online France and Egypt negotiating Rafale fighter jet deal France is in advanced talks to sell Dassault Aviation-built Rafale fighter jets to Egypt for around 6 billion euros ($6.88 billion), Les Echos newspaper reported on Thursday. Despite exclusive negotiations with India for the last three years, Dassault has still not found a foreign buyer for its multi-role jet, the Rafale, billed to be one of the most effective and sophisticated fighter jets in the world, but also one of the most expensive. The business daily said the two countries were close to finalizing a deal for 24 jets and a naval frigate worth 5 to 6 billion euros. The deal could be financed by as much as 50 percent through a credit facility arranged by French credit insurer Coface. Read more: http://www.todayonline.com/world/france-and-egypt-negotiating-rafale-fighter-jet-deal-newspaper Ynet News Egypt, Norway urge donors to pay $5.4b aid pledged for Gaza The two nations, who led a donors' conference in Cairo in October when the cash was pledged, wrote an open letter to donors and said people in Gaza were suffering with a slower-than-expected pace of reconstruction. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the two felt it had become necessary to remind donors who had promised to help rebuild Gaza that they "should fulfill their obligations in this regard." "No one has said to us that they're not committed to what they have pledged, but also due to oil price and other issues in the Gulf, there has been a bit of a lingering," Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende told a news conference. The two ministers, after a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Oslo, did not single out any nations for criticism nor say how much of the $5.4 billion pledged had reached the Palestinians. Read more: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4623604,00.html Hurriyet Daily News Turkey says it can't take putschist Egypt's statements seriously A statement by Egypt, which condemned Turkey's comments on the "Kerdasa Trial" verdict, describing them as having "caused disgust and condemnation," received an extremely harsh response within hours, as Ankara voiced its conviction that "taking the statement by Egypt seriously is out of the question." "The statement released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Feb. 4 constitutes a new tragicomic effort by Egypt's coup rulers, whose understanding of state governance is based on the triangle of weapons, oppression and cruelty," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement released shortly after midnight in the early morning hours of Feb. 5. This situation shows the "deepness of the failure and inferiority complex that [the coup-administration in Egypt] has fallen into," Bilgiç said. "No matter which lies the putschist mentality in Cairo makes up, Turkey will resume its principled stance for peace and welfare of our Egyptian siblings," Bilgiç said. Read more: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-says-it-cant-take-putschist-egypts-statements-seriously.aspx?pageID=238&nID=77931&NewsCatID=510 Reuters Putin will likely discuss energy cooperation during Egypt visit Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely discuss oil and gas cooperation with Egypt during his visit to the Arab country next week, his top foreign policy adviser said on Thursday. The Kremlin has said Putin will travel to Cairo on Feb. 9-10 for talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/russia-egypt-putin-energy-idUSL6N0VF3MS20150205
