The Times of Israel Angry Egypt feels the squeeze from jihadis, US and Hamas There is one thing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can take comfort in regarding his relations with the US administration — he is not the only Middle Eastern leader struggling to understand American President Barack Obama. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has also been at a loss in recent weeks amid the administration's almost surreal conduct towards Cairo. On Monday Sisi was asked what he and the other Arab allies thought of US leadership in the region. It is hard to put his response in words, mainly due to his prolonged silence. "Difficult question," he said after some moments, while his body language expressed contempt and disgust. "The suspending of US equipment and arms was an indicator for the public that the United States is not standing by the Egyptians." It turns out that although the American administration recently agreed to provide the Egyptian Air Force with Apache attack helicopters, it has been making it increasingly difficult for Cairo to make additional military purchases. Read more: http://www.timesofisrael.com/anger-stoked-as-egypt-feels-squeeze-from-jihadis-us-and-hamas/ Al-Monitor Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia inch toward resolving Nile dam crisis When the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi laid the foundation stone of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in April 2011 in the wake of the January 25 Revolution, he marked the beginning of a long standoff between Cairo and Addis Ababa and much instability and chaos in Egypt. The conflicting parties decided in 2014 to return to the negotiating table in a bid to overcome their differences and disagreement about the risks the GERD poses to Egypt's water security. The first Malabo meeting, which took place in August 2014, addressed the technical aspects of the issue. On March 3, the foreign and water ministers of the Eastern Nile countries of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia held three days of closed negotiations in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. The three countries reached a preliminary consensus on a trilateral political and technical agreement on water use in the Eastern Nile basin and the risks from the GERD. The plan's contribution to ending the conflict on the Nile waters is uncertain, as many issues remain, such as the dam's negative impact on Egypt. Following the talks, Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hossam Maghazi said in a March 6 press statement, "The document relates to Egypt's and Sudan's concerns regarding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The document is seen as a positive step forward, which will be followed by other steps once it is referred to the presidents of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia for review and ratification. Meanwhile, the representatives in the negotiations refused to disclose to the media any details about the agreement until it is submitted to the presidents. Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/03/egypt-ethiopia-sudan-negotiations-political-renaissance-dam.html The Financial Times Foreign investors return to Egypt after years of turmoil Egypt is to present $35bn worth of projects at the investment conference in Sharm el-Sheikh on March 13 and 14. As well as showcasing opportunities for foreign investors, the government is hoping to highlight reforms aimed at restoring confidence in an economy which is emerging from one of its worst patches in recent history. Last week the cabinet approved a new investment law in an effort to address some of the issues ahead of the conference. Changes include simplifying the process for obtaining permissions and making deals less vulnerable to legal disputes by third parties. Energy shortages, another concern for investors, are being addressed by moves to import natural gas and permit the use of coal in electricity generation and manufacturing. The government is also establishing a legal framework for investment in renewables. Read more: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/871858b6-c320-11e4-ac3d-00144feab7de.html#axzz3U9ZF0QaG Press TV Egypt government appeals court ruling labeling Hamas as ‘terrorist' The government of Egypt has filed legal action with a Cairo court appealing the court's former ruling, which labeled the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, as a terrorist group. Egypt's State Lawsuits Authority, the government's legal arm, has appealed a ruling by Cairo's Court for Urgent Matters labeling Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, a 'terrorist organization," a judicial source said on Wednesday. According to reports, the court has set March 28 as the to date to start hearing the case. Read more: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/03/11/401341/Egypt-appeals-Hamas-terrorist-ruling
