The second periodical statement released by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif before the People's Assembly [Egypt's lower chamber of Parliament] renewed the disputes between the opposition and the majority over the way Egypt has been dealing with the Gaza crisis. In his statement, the Prime Minister talked about Egypt's efforts during the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the country's economic situation and the irrigation system development project. The MPs, though, ignored the statement and focused on the Gaza crisis during their discussions. While he was delivering his speech, Nazif always kept looking at the National Democratic Party [NDP] MPs. For their part, Muslim Brotherhood [MB] and independent MPs protested shouting: "Don't we count?" While the Prime Minister was reading the statement, NDP MPs gathered around him, but NDP Organization Committee Secretary General Ahmed Ezz intervened and sent them away. NDP MPs continued to pay their tribute to President Mubarak for the unique role he had played through "his wise policies", while they slammed Iran, Qatar, Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah and Ahmadinejad. For their part, MB and opposition MPs continued to criticize Egypt's official stance. They demanded that the Israeli ambassador be expelled from Cairo and gas exports be halted. They also criticized the government for not opening the Rafah border crossing only for humanitarian aid.
