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31 May 2012

EGYPT 20,000 Police, 160 Tanks to Secure Mubarak Trial Ahead of Verdict: Al-Masry Al-Youm In anticipation of a violent reaction to former President Hosni Mubarak's sentencing, officials unveiled a plan to secure the Saturday session of his trial that includes the deployment of 160 tanks and thousands of police officers. (Source: Cairo, Egypt, Morning Daily) Two American Tourists Abducted in Sinai: Ahram Online Unknown assailants abduct two American tourists in South Sinai; Two American tourists were kidnapped by unknown assailants on the Dahab-Nuweiba Road while touring South Sinai. (Source: Cairo, Egypt; Daily; Neutral) Fate of Hated Emergency Law to be Settled on Thursday: Egypt Independent After 31 years, Egypt's longstanding state of emergency will likely not be extended when it comes up for renewal in Parliament Thursday. (Source: Cairo, Egypt, Morning Daily) Mubarak Sons Face Charges over Stock Market Fraud: Al Sharaq Al Awsat The two sons of Egypt's ousted President Hosni Mubarak will face charges of stock market manipulation; the public prosecutor said on Wednesday, three days before a court was due to issue a verdict in a separate trial for their role in alleged corruption. (Source: London, England; pan-Arab daily news; Pro Arab) ISRAEL / GAZA Israeli Army 'May Act to Stop Syria Weapons Smuggling': Ma'an Israel will consider using military action to intercept the transfer of weaponry or other weapons from Syria to groups like Hezbollah, an Israeli army official said Wednesday. (Source: Bethlehem, Israel; Funded by Dutch and Danish Foreign Ministries; anti-Zionism / anti-West) Israel: Al-Qaeda in Syria may Operate against us Over Time: Al Manar The Israeli occupation forces Northern District Commander Yair Golan said on Wednesday that Israel is in a constant battle with Iran in various channels, Channel 2 News reported. (Source: Beirut, Lebanon, LCC, Intl, Hezbollah TV outlet) 'Security Officials Oppose Iran Strike': Ynet The majority of Israel's defense chiefs are against a military strike in Iran at this time, Ynet has learned, Although officially, Israel's stance on the matter is that all options are viable, political sources told Ynet on Wednesday that IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz, Mossad Chief Tamir Pardo and several top section chiefs in the Mossad are against a strike at this time. (Source: Israel, Yedi'ot Media Group) PA Officials Ponder Barak 'Unilateral Action' Remarks: Ma'an Israel's defense minister said Wednesday that his government may consider "unilateral action" if peace talks remain at a standstill, in remarks that puzzled Palestinian leaders. (Source: Bethlehem, Israel; Funded by Dutch and Danish Foreign Ministries; anti-Zionism / anti-West) JORDAN Deputies Vote to Suspend Nuclear Project: The Jordan Times Deputies on Wednesday approved a recommendation by a parliamentary committee to suspend Jordan's projected nuclear programme, invoking hazardous consequences of the energy generating project. (Source: Amman, Jordan; Independent; Neutral)

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31 May 2012

LEBANON Geagea: Lebanons Sunnis do not Support Terrorism: Now Lebanon Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea warned on Thursday against attempts to incite strife in Lebanon through misleading public opinion by portraying the Sunni community as supportive of terrorism. (Source: Beirut, Lebanon; Privately Funded / Independent; Liberal) Mikati to Suspend Sessions if Cabinet Fails to Fund Tripoli Projects: The Daily Star Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned Thursday that if the Cabinet fails to agree on a means to allocate funds for development projects in Tripoli, north Lebanon, he will suspend Cabinet sessions. (Source: Beirut, Lebanon; Independent; Daily, Except Sunday; Neutral) Power to the Lebanese People: Strikers Test the Water: Al Bawaba Around 2500 contract workers, some of whom have spent a lifetime of service at Lebanons electricity company, are being threatened with mass layoffs. They are demanding permanent employment and decent wages and benefits. (Source: Amman, Jordan; Popular Arab media; Daily; Claims Neutrality) SYRIA Live Blog on Developments in Syria: Now Lebanon Live Syria Blog (Source: Beirut, Lebanon; Privately Funded / Independent; Liberal) Russia: No Need for New UN Action on Syria: Al Bawaba Russia said Wednesday new UN actions against Syria are premature. Moscow also condemned as counterproductive the removal of Syrian ambassadors from Western capitals after the massacre of Houla. (Source: Amman, Jordan; Popular Arab media; Daily; Claims Neutrality) Free Syrian Army Leader Urges Annan to Declare Ceasefire Plan Failed: AL Arabiya The commander of Syrias main armed rebel group, the Free Syrian Army, urged international envoy Kofi Annan on Thursday to formally announce that his seven-week-old ceasefire plan had failed, allowing rebels to resume attacks on President Bashar al-Assads forces. Riad al-Asaad also dismissed a 48-hour deadline declared on Wednesday by senior Free Syrian Army officer for Assad to comply with the plan. (Source: Dubai, UAE; Owned by MBC Group, Intl (Large Iraqi following); Neutral; Daily) NGO: Troops and Rebels Clash, 39 Killed in Syria: Al Masry Al Youm Fierce fighting erupted on Wednesday between regime troops and rebels near Damascus and in Homs province, a watchdog said, while reporting 39 more people killed across Syria. (Source: Cairo, Egypt, Morning Daily) Executions Reported in Syria: Al Jazeera
The head of UN observers in Syria, Major-General Robert Mood, said 13 bodies had been discovered in the east of the country, with their hands tied behind their backs and signs that some had been shot in the head from close range. (Source: Doha,

Qatar; Independent; Website of the TV Network; Claim Neutrality) Syria Expels Dutch Charge Daffaires: Naharnet
Syria ordered the Dutch charge d'affaires on Wednesday to leave the country, the foreign ministry said, in an apparent reaction to the expulsion of Syrian diplomats by a slew of Western countries. (Source: Lebanon, English edition of A Nahar,

Liberal) Syrian Troops Kidnap 2 Citizens as a Third is Released after being Arrested Since Sunday: Naharnet

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31 May 2012 Syrian troops kidnapped on Wednesday two Lebanese farmers in the border region of al-Abboudiyeh, The residents in the area blocked the international road in protest against the development. (Source: Lebanon, English edition of A Nahar,

Liberal) EDITORIALS The Egyptians are Asking the Wrong Question: Al Sharaq Al Awsat By Tariq Alhomayed The Egyptian people are today asking: who should we vote for in the presidential run-off, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Mursi, or Ahmed Shafiq, whose election would be a return to the Mubarak regime once more? Of course, this question in itself is wrong! In order for Egypt to take the most logical path, according to the art of the possible, the Egyptians must ask the right question, namely: do I want a religious state or a civil state? , (Source: London, England; pan-Arab daily news; Pro Arab) Roots of Civil War in Syria: Dar Al Hayat Abdullah Iskandar The world awaited the massacre in Houla to condemn the horrendousness which has started to govern the confrontation in Syria. (Source: Tiyadh, Saudi Arabia, Morning Daily) Palestinian Hunger Strikers Breathe Life into Ongoing Egyptian Revolution: Al Jazeera By Sarah Mousa The stately marble staircase of the Journalists' Syndicate in downtown Cairo, a common setting for protests over decades, slowly filled on a Sunday afternoon in late May. (Source: Doha, Qatar; Independent; Website of the TV Network; Claim Neutrality) Supporting Documentation:

EGYPT (Top) 31 May 2012 Al-Masry Al-Youm 20,000 Police, 160 Tanks to Secure Mubarak Trial Ahead of Verdict

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31 May 2012

In anticipation of a violent reaction to former President Hosni Mubarak's sentencing, officials unveiled a plan to secure the Saturday session of his trial that includes the deployment of 160 tanks and thousands of police officers. Security sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that a bomb squad would examine the special Police Academy courtroom dedicated to the trial 24 hours before the 2 June session. Security forces will also use bomb-sniffing dogs, electronic gates and metal detectors, according to a plan the Interior Ministry approved Wednesday. More than 20,000 police officers and 60 tanks will surround the academy in Cairo's Fifth Settlement and 100 tanks will be stationed inside the grounds. Former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six high-ranking security officials are facing trial alongside Mubarak for the alleged involvement in killing protesters during the 18-day uprising last January and February that ended Mubaraks three-decade rule. More than 850 people were killed during those 18 days and thousands were injured. The former president, his sons Gamal and Alaa Mubarak, and businessman Hussein Salem were also tried for corruption in a separate case heard during the same proceedings, which began last summer. The prosecution has requested the death penalty for Mubarak, a punishment usually carried out by hanging in Egypt. Mubarak's defense team plans to appeal a potential guilty verdict. Although Mubarak has typically been transported by helicopter to the makeshift court, the security plan for Saturday's session includes protecting the roads surrounding the International Medical Center where Mubarak has been detained and received medical treatment throughout the trial. Heavy security is also expected on roads that other defendants will travel. According to the plan, the courtroom will be evacuated once the judge reads the ruling and the defendants will transported to their places of detention. The same sources said arrangements have been made for a possible attack on prisons.

31 May 2012 Ahram Online Two American Tourists Abducted in Sinai Unknown assailants abduct two American tourists in South Sinai; Two American tourists were kidnapped by unknown assailants on the Dahab-Nuweiba Road while touring South Sinai. The assailants reportedly kidnapped the two women to hold them hostage until a drug dealer they know is released. This is the last of a series of kidnappings involving tourists in Sinai in recent months. In March, two Brazilian tourists were kidnapped along with their tour guide by armed Bedouin. They were released after eight hours. In February, three South Korean women were kidnapped in Sinai by armed tribesmen. Also in February, two US tourists were kidnapped, again by armed assailants in Sharm El-Sheikh. In all cases, the foreigners were held for a short period of time and released unharmed. During all incidents, the foreigners were abducted while onboard tour vehicles and were released after negotiations with security officials. The kidnappers usually demand the release of jailed tribesmen in return for the hostages.

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31 May 2012

31 May 2012 Egypt independent Fate of Hated Emergency Law to be Settled on Thursday After 31 years, Egypt's longstanding state of emergency will likely not be extended when it comes up for renewal in Parliament Thursday Egypt's longstanding Emergency Law will likely not be extended by the Islamist-led Peoples Assembly (the lower house of Egypt's parliament) when it comes up for renewal on Thursday, effectively ending the country's 31-yearlong state of emergency. A majority of lawmakers support the notion of ending the reviled Emergency Law, which had been used to deadly effect against Egypt's political opposition by the ousted Mubarak regime. Some parliamentarians, however, including independent MP Mostafa Bakry, believe the law should be extended by another year due to an ongoing domestic security vacuum, independent Egyptian daily Al-Shorouk reported on Wednesday. Military sources, meanwhile, confirmed to Ahram Online that Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) would not request the law's extension. Following Mubarak's ouster early last year, anti-regime protesters had demanded the law's cancellation. The SCAF had agreed to the demand at the time, citing Egypt's relatively stable domestic security situation. In September, however, the SCAF amended certain articles of the law, and, following clashes outside Israel's Cairo embassy the following month, added new articles to it. In January of this year, SCAF head Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi declared in a televised address that application of the emergency law would be limited to acts of thuggery and drug-related crimes.

31 May 2012 Al Sharaq Al Awsat Mubarak Sons Face Charges over Stock Market Fraud

(U) Mubarak sons The two sons of Egypt's ousted President Hosni Mubarak will face charges of stock market manipulation; the public prosecutor said on Wednesday, three days before a court was due to issue a verdict in a separate trial for their role in alleged corruption.

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31 May 2012

Gamal and Alaa Mubarak are already standing trial with their father in a case in which the former president is facing charges of graft, as well as complicity in the killing of protestors who rose up against him last year. The verdict in that trial is expected on Saturday. Mubarak's eldest son, Alaa, is a businessman. His youngest son, Gamal, a former banker, was widely viewed as a being groomed for Egypt's top job until Mubarak was toppled on Feb. 11, 2011. Both are in their 40s. Mubarak, his family and his aides and associates were accused by protesters of amassing wealth illegally while leaving swathes of the country in poverty. Egypt's public prosecutor said in a statement Alaa, Gamal and seven others, were referred to the criminal court on charges of violating stock market and central bank rules to gain unlawful profits through dealings in shares in Al Watany Bank of Egypt, a listed bank. All those accused in the case were released on bail and barred from travel, except Gamal and Alaa, who were ordered to remain in detention and had their assets frozen pending the trial. The public prosecutor's statement said that others referred to trial alongside Mubarak's sons included Yasser El Mallawany and Hassan Heikal, board members and joint chief executives officers of Egyptian investment bank EFG-Hermes. The trial of Mubarak, 84, and his two sons began on Aug. 3. It is the first time that an Arab head of state, ousted in a popular uprising, has appeared for trial in an ordinary court. Tunisia's ousted president was tried in absentia while Iraq's toppled Saddam Hussein stood trial in a special court.

ISRAEL / GAZA (Top) 31 May 2012 Ma'an Israeli Army 'May Act to Stop Syria Weapons Smuggling' Israel will consider using military action to intercept the transfer of weaponry or other weapons from Syria to groups like Hezbollah, an Israeli army official said Wednesday. Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan made the remarks during an anniversary conference marking Israel's first war in Lebanon, The Jerusalem Post, an English-language Israeli daily, reported. He said the first challenge for Israel would be to obtain intelligence that such a transfer has taken place, but that once Israel knew it would need to consider action, the Post reported. Golan's remarks came a day after Western powers expelled Syria's envoys in outrage at a massacre of 108 people, almost half of them children. The killings in the town of Houla drew a chorus of condemnation from around the world, with the UN saying entire families were killed in their homes on Friday, some by army tanks and others probably by pro-Assad militia. Peace envoy Kofi Annan has urged President Bashar Assad to take bold steps to halt the bloodshed, while others declared a negotiated solution between Assad and the opposition less likely than ever.

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31 May 2012

31 May 2012 Al Manar Israel: Al-Qaeda in Syria may Operate against us Over Time

(U) Al Manar The Israeli occupation forces Northern District Commander Yair Golan said on Wednesday that Israel is in a constant battle with Iran in various channels, Channel 2 News reported. gunmen in SyriaIn a speech he gave at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University, Golan said, Iran is here. We are conducting an indirect war against it every day, as we do against Hamas in Gaza and against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran's negative influence is very significant to our region and its involvement is seen both here and in Syria. Golan warned that the battle being waged in Syria between opponents of the Assad regime and Assad loyalists may have an effect on what is happening in Israel. Al-Qaeda related factors that are active there now and working against the regime may operate against us over time, he said, according to the Channel 2 report. The Syrian threat to Israel requires attention. It will not happen tomorrow morning, but it can occur within a few months. Golan added, Syria has weapons of mass destruction along with a very heavy arsenal of weapons, including surface-to-ground missiles and chemical weapons. The fact that Syria is a storehouse of weapons which fuels terrorists in the region is very unsettling. He noted that, should the need arise for the Israeli occupation forces to launch a military operation in Syria, The IDF has the power to take over the rocket launching areas that threaten the homefront in a relatively short period of time and bring about the defeat of Hezbollah in each such area.

31 May 2012 Ynet 'Security Officials Oppose Iran Strike' The majority of Israel's defense chiefs are against a military strike in Iran at this time, Ynet has learned. Although officially, Israel's stance on the matter is that all options are viable, political sources told Ynet on Wednesday that IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz, Mossad Chief Tamir Pardo and several top section chiefs in the Mossad are against a strike at this time.

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31 May 2012

Such opposition has been noted within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's special nine-minister security forum. Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman support an attack on Tehran's nuclear facilities, but Vice Premier Moshe Yaalon, Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz and ministers Dan Meridor, Benny Begin, Eli Yishai and Yuval Steinitz are against it. "Without Gantz' support the chances of mounting a strike are slim," a political source told Ynet. "Israel has to push the international community to impose further sanctions on the Iranian economy. That's what's important right now." Israel, he added, must urge crippling financial sanctions against the Islamic Republic: "The sanctions should reduce the Iranian economy to rubble. The United States and Europe still seem hesitant on that, mostly for political reasons and a fear of soaring oil prices. "We still have to see where the nuclear negotiations are going, but nothing seems to be happening there and the Iranians are still pursuing enrichment activities," he said. Sources privy to the government's Iranian debate added that Netanyahu and Barak's rhetoric on the matter increase the chances of a military strike. "This may not be an act. Their statements are problematic," a senior source said. "The main problem is that Netanyahu simply doesnt trust Obama in this matter."

31 May 2012 Ma'an PA Officials Ponder Barak 'Unilateral Action' Remarks

Unclassified Israel's defense minister said Wednesday that his government may consider "unilateral action" if peace talks remain at a standstill, in remarks that puzzled Palestinian leaders. Ehud Barak's suggestion at a security conference that Israel should "consider a provisional arrangement or even unilateral action" if negotiations remain deadlocked, did not go unnoticed in Ramallah.

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31 May 2012

According to one official, speaking on condition of anonymity, the West Bank leadership is "studying the situation" to judge if the remarks reflected a real shift or only internal political rhetoric. At first glance, the official said, the remarks seemed aimed at aligning with Shaul Mofaz, the leader of the Kadima party, who is an advocate of unilaterally withdrawing from parts of the West Bank. Unlike Barak's Labor faction, Kadima is influential in Israeli politics. But the Palestinian official said the new proposal from Barak, who resigned in protest amid the 2005 Gaza withdrawal, likely said more about the growing influence of pro-settler sentiment on Israeli politics than any change of heart from the defense minister. President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina, meanwhile, issued an official response: The PA's position is that a state with temporary borders is unacceptable, he said. The spokesman told the Palestinian Authority's official news agency Wafa that Israel's policies were leading toward a continuation of the conflict rather than a solution. The Palestinians are committed to a just and comprehensive solution of a state within 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and without Jerusalem nothing will be accepted, he said. Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti said the remarks should be taken seriously. He condemned Barak's proposal but said it reflected "the truth about Israel's intention, which is to destroy the possibility of a Palestinian state and to divide it into small pieces and separate jails on less than 40 percent of the West Bank, without Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley." Barghouti said the comments emphasized the need to restore Palestinian unity.

JORDAN (Top) 31 May 2012 The Jordan Times Deputies Vote to Suspend Nuclear Project

(U) MPs chat during Wednesdays Lower House session (Photo by Hassan Tamimi

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31 May 2012

Deputies on Wednesday approved a recommendation by a parliamentary committee to suspend Jordan's projected nuclear programme, invoking hazardous consequences of the energy generating project. During a Lower House session, 36 out of the 63 MPs present voted in favour of a recommendation by the Energy and Mineral Resources Committee to bring to a standstill Jordan's nuclear programme which, it said, "will drive the country into a dark tunnel and will bring about an adverse and irreversible environmental impact". However, Commissioner of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Khaled Toukan said Jordan's nuclear programme will be unaffected by a parliamentary motion to halt the project, saying that the project's activities fall in line with lawmakers demands (see related story). Ahead of the vote, several deputies insisted that the "hazardous and costly nuclear programme be suspended, calling on the government to switch to other environment-friendly energy-generating projects such as the solar and wind power. Citing Jordan's lack of water resources, Balqa MP Mahmoud Kharabsheh, who launched the inquiry into the nuclear programme, said that the project will add new burdens to the already fragile budget, and called for resorting to clean alternatives to address the country's energy dilemma. "Financially and geographically speaking, Jordan is incapable of starting a nuclear programme," said Irbid Deputy Zeid Shqeirat who voiced his "wholehearted" support for all the committee's recommendations. For Jerash MP Wafa Bani Mustafa, moving forward with the nuclear programme is against the will of most Jordanians who, she said, are against the "risky" project. Other MPs, including the Energy Committee Chairman Jamal Gammo, argued that Jordan is planning to implement a nuclear project at a time several countries, including Japan and Germany, have started dismantling their nuclear power plants. Some deputies, however, including Khalil Attiyeh (Amman, 2nd District) and Bassel Ayasreh (Jerash, 1st District), said MPs are not experts in nuclear energy and thus cannot issue any verdict concerning the Kingdom's nuclear programme. "It is wrong to stop such a national nuclear project," Attiyeh said, warning his colleagues against taking any decision to suspend the project. The veteran deputy also said that none of the experts consulted by the Energy Committee has called for suspending the project, calling on his colleagues to be "fair" when deciding the matter. In its final report, which was released last week, the Energy Committee accused the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) of deliberately "misleading" the public and officials over the Kingdoms nuclear programme by "hiding facts" related to the cost of the projected nuclear reactor and deliberately omitting the cost of works other than the construction. Ayasreh said deputies debate over a purely scientific issue was unreasonable. He called on his colleagues to support any move that contributes to easing Jordan's energy woes. Also on Wednesday, a majority of deputies voted for approving the Energy Committee's recommendation to suspend uranium exploration in the Kingdom until a feasibility study is conducted.

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31 May 2012

In its report, the parliamentary committee also accused JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan of issuing misleading statements that emphasize the economic feasibility of uranium mining in Jordan "despite the fact that no feasibility study has been conducted yet". "Observing the principle of confidentiality of information, as stipulated in the agreement with AREVA, cannot be an excuse to keep deputies in the dark unless there is something JAEC intends to hide from the people and the Lower House," reads the report. "How come the government approved such a big enterprise despite the fact that no feasibility study has been conducted?" Kharabsheh asked, calling for terminating Toukans service. Describing the committee's report as "subjective", Zarqa Deputy Ali Khalaileh charged that the panel had discussions only with those who oppose the nuclear and uranium mining projects, without even listening to Toukan's opinion on the matter. Responding to that, Gammo said that the committee consulted advocates and opponents of the project and sent a set of questions to Toukan whose reply was taken into consideration when the committees report was authored. The government is required to abide by the committees recommendations that were approved by a majority of deputies.

LEBANON (Top) 31 May 2012 Now Lebanon Geagea: Lebanons Sunnis do not Support Terrorism Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea warned on Thursday against attempts to incite strife in Lebanon through misleading public opinion by portraying the Sunni community as supportive of terrorism. [I warn] against creating problems with the Sunni community as a result of the stance it adopted in support of the Syrian revolution, Geagea said following a meeting with a delegation from the Bekaa village of Majdel Aanjar. The Syrian regime and its allies in Lebanon are trying to portray the Sunnis as [sponsors of terrorism] in an attempt to mislead public opinion and divert attention from what is happening in Syria, he added. Geagea, however, said that the LF would condemn the Syrian rebels if they got hold of power and engaged in oppressing others, adding that his party does not back a regime or an authority but that it is rather a staunch supporter of freedom and democracy. The LF leader also commented on the issue of the Islamist detainees in Lebanese prisons, and voiced support for this humanitarian issue and the resumption of their trials as soon as possible. The case of Islamist detainees arrested without charges has been one of the core points of recent events in Tripoli, where deadly clashes broke out May 12. More than 13,000 people, the majority of them civilians, have died since the Syrian uprising began, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, including nearly 1,500 since the putative UN-backed truce took effect April 12.

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31 May 2012

31 May 2012 The Daily Star Mikati to Suspend Sessions if Cabinet Fails to Fund Tripoli Projects

(U) Prime Minister Najib Mikati. (The Daily Star/Dalati Nohra) Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned Thursday that if the Cabinet fails to agree on a means to allocate funds for development projects in Tripoli, north Lebanon, he will suspend Cabinet sessions. If LL150 billion in funds is not allocated to the city of Tripoli in the next Cabinet session, I will not call another Cabinet session until funding is secured, Mikati said on his Facebook page. The Cabinet agreed in principle Wednesday to implement development projects described as "urgent and immediate" in Tripoli worth LL150 billion as long as the amount is secured in the next Cabinet session. As-Safir newspaper reported in an article published Thursday that Mikati along with Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi proposed during Wednesdays Cabinet session securing LL100 billion via treasury loans. Ministers with the Change and Reform bloc agreed to fund projects in Lebanons second largest city but insisted that the funds secured should be included in the 2012 state budget. The Cabinet is studying a draft 2012 budget proposed by Safadi with the latter refusing to release further funds to the government until it either approves overspending or sets the 2012 state budget. The Cabinet has failed to agree on a means to retroactively authorize LL8.9 trillion in overspending, plunging the country into a financial crisis. Earlier this year, Mikati suspended Cabinet sessions following a dispute with ministers from MP Michel Aouns parliamentary Change and Reform bloc over civil service appointments.

31 May 2012 Al Bawaba Power to the Lebanese People: Strikers Test the Water

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31 May 2012

(U) the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water has wronged four million Lebanese people for tens of years, as power rationing has sucked millions of dollars from their pockets for no reason Around 2500 contract workers, some of whom have spent a lifetime of service at Lebanons electricity company, are being threatened with mass layoffs. They are demanding permanent employment and decent wages and benefits. The Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water has wronged four million Lebanese people for tens of years, as power rationing has sucked millions of dollars from their pockets for no reason. The ministry is also mistreating 2,500 contract workers at Electricity du Liban (EDL) (Electricity of Lebanon). It has failed in the past 20 years to provide them with permanent employment, depriving them of social security, a monthly salary, and job security. It is threatening them with dismissal in a few months as they might be replaced by private companies. Minister of Energy and Water Gebran Bassil, who refuses to even meet the committee that the contract workers formed yesterday, is describing these workers as troublemakers and outlaws. He went on to say that the workers should be thanking him because he is the first minister who has thought about adjusting their situation. Committee of EDL contract workers came together overlooking their different political, sectarian, and confessional backgrounds. The ministers plan allows 700 workers out of 2,500 to become full-time employees with benefits after undergoing civil service department exams. The exams put these contract workers, who have worked at EDL for 20 years and left college tens of years ago, up against new graduates and applicants with connections. The minister waxed philosophical, arguing that the day laborers uprising for their rights harms EDL. He went on, calling on contract workers to thank whoever lied to them promising permanent employment. He said that the contract workers actions undermine security, after declaring that their tents resemble the Tripoli tents. As if social security for those people has no place in the theories of reform and change the minister raises. Yesterday, in the EDL courtyard enveloped with black smoke, contract workers who undermine security stood shoulder to shoulder and their demand was one - permanent employment. Contract workers have been on strike for 29 days, which means they will not get a salary this month. Despite that, we will persevere until we achieve our demands. The committee of EDL contract workers decided on its course of action and that is peaceful escalation. Yesterday they came together overlooking their different political, sectarian,

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31 May 2012

and confessional backgrounds. The women were closer to the smoke than the men. Their voices rising with others calling for an end to the injustice. Fatima Rida, 37, is a member in the Mount Lebanon area office of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), the ministers party. She repeats the workers demand: We want permanent employment. Rida addresses her comrade in the FPM, Gebran Bassil: We had high hopes for you and instead of treating us fairly, you turned into a knife. Rida has been working for nine years as a contract worker at EDL. We come from good families, we have pride, and we have many years experience of doing this work. What Minister Bassil is doing is unfair - our demands are legitimate. Rida graduated from college about 15 years ago. She insists that all contract workers should become part of the staff at EDL as temporary employees, then well undergo a test that would be restricted to enabling us to advance in our work, and get promoted in terms of job category and rank, instead of throwing us outside the institution without compensation or alternative employment. Contract workers have been on strike for 29 days, which means they will not get a salary this month. Despite that, we will persevere until we achieve our demands, says Amal Amhaz. Amhaz insists that we quote her statement that we vote in Sin el-Fil and our family has 450 votes. We voted for the two FPM candidates in the past but in this round of elections we will not. She will participate in any action, no matter the degree of escalation, not only to protect her rights but those of all her colleagues.Amhaz says she has worked as an administrative contract worker in the secretariat for three years and instead of having the Minister trying to guarantee and protect the rights of those who gave so much to this institution, he is jeopardizing their livelihoods. She says she will participate in any action, no matter the degree of escalation, not only to protect her rights but those of all her colleagues. Nisrine al-Halabi has spent ten years of her 28 years working at EDL as a contract worker. No social security, no stability, and continuous promises to provide permanent employment. Monthly, she earns 700,000 Lebanese liras (LL) (US$466) and believes they have no chance of achieving their demands except through escalating their actions. We will lock the doors just like the Ministry of Energy locks the doors of employment in the institution in our faces. Lina Srour, who is 36 years old, has similar complaints. She has been working for ten years in the institution without social security or permanent employment. She points out that she started work at an early age and grew up in the institution. Where will I find work in this country of unemployment now? Are there surplus jobs out there that justify the Ministers enthusiasm to fire us? Samira Fahs has been working as a contract worker at EDL for 14 years in the billing department. Her main demand is to join her colleagues at the sit-in. She thinks that what contract workers have been subjected to is inhuman. Where will I find work in this country of unemployment now? Are there surplus jobs out there that justify the Ministers enthusiasm to fire us? Where is the patriotism and the humanism in paying back workers who have sacrificed their lives in the full sense of the word by putting them out of work instead of providing them with permanent employment? Fahs asks. She says that corruption and the stigma that Bassil is going to associate with contract workers will make it difficult for them to pass any test and everyone will be dismissed.

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Insaf Budair is perplexed by this insistence in laying off contract workers: We are the backbone of this institution, we work in everything, from management to collections to sweeping the floors. This institution functions on the backs of contract workers and now they want to fire us? Budair has worked at the institution for ten years, that is, since she was 24 years old. We make LL 800,000 (US$600) at a time when each of us does the job of two employees due to a hiring freeze. Is this our reward? In 1972, 1,200 workers from the Ghandour candy factories took action that shook Lebanese public opinion. Their demand was similar to those of EDLs contract workes, but their numbers were less. Three workers were killed and 14 wounded by the security forces. A protest was organized with the slogan 99 thieves and 17 robbers, which was the number of MPs and ministers respectively. The events now resemble those then. One of the contract workers says Minister Gebran Bassil threatens us and intimidates us but we are only asking for our rights. Another worker, Nisrine Al-Halabi, says the situation is unbearable. She asks: Do officials want us to escalate? How far do they want us to go? Keep in mind that 12 contract workers at EDL have already died, either because they suffered severe burns or were electrocuted. Another 45 have been maimed, including four cases in which workers became severely disfigured. In addition, three contract workers were permanently disabled, without ever receiving any compensation or medical care from their employer. SYRIA (Top) 31 May 2012 Now Lebanon Live Blog on Developments in Syria 13:29 one person was killed and dozens injured in the shelling of Homs Al-Qussayr by Syrian security forces, AlJazeera quoted activists as saying on Thursday. 13:09 Activists estimated that 85 percent of the residents have migrated from the Aleppo town of Atareb, Al-Arabiya reported. 13:08 Syrian security forces shelled the town of Atareb near Aleppo for the third consecutive day; Al-Arabiya quoted activists as saying. 2:29 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Syria on Thursday to honor its commitment to a peace plan drawn up by international mediator Kofi Annan after the massacre of more than 100 civilians in Houla. 12:03 seven people were killed in Syria on Thursday by security forces; Al-Arabiya TV quoted activists as saying. 12:02 Syrian troops resumed their shelling of the Houla region on Thursday, killing at least one person at the site of a massacre of 108 people last week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

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11:26 A Syrian honorary consul in the United States has resigned in protest after last week's killings in Houla, where more than 100 people were slaughtered in a massacre blamed on pro-government forces. 9:20 Activists called for attending a mass in Damascus to commemorate Syrian director Bassel Shahade who was killed by the security forces shelling of Homs, Al-Jazeera TV reported. 9:06 MORNING LEADER: Russia insisted Wednesday that new action against its Syrian ally would be premature, amid Western calls for increased pressure on the regime as the death toll rises following the latest killings in the eastern town of Assukar and of last week's massacre near the central town of Houla in which more than 100 people died. 8:40 The Syrian government is stopping an Arab deputy to UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan from entering the country, diplomats said Wednesday. 8:32 Security forces and Shabeeha (thugs) members raided the town of Moadamiya in the district of Damascus, AlJazeera TV reported. 8:18 Western nations on Wednesday came out of a UN Security Council meeting demanding increased pressure on Syria amid outrage over two massacres in five days, but Russia maintained its opposition to sanctions. 8:16 The Syria peace-brokering team led by Kofi Annan wants "concrete gestures" from Damascus on halting the violence as the situation reaches a tipping point, his deputy said on Wednesday. 7:47 The Syrian army is shelling several neighborhoods in Homs; Al-Jazeera TV quoted activists as saying. 7:19 UN and Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan will arrive in Beirut on Thursday at noon, the Voice of Lebanon (100.5) radio reported.

31 May 2012 Al Bawaba Russia: No Need for New UN Action on Syria

Unclassified Russia said Wednesday new UN actions against Syria are premature. Moscow also condemned as counterproductive the removal of Syrian ambassadors from Western capitals after the massacre of Houla.

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"We believe that a review by the UN Security Council of any new measures is premature," said Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov, according to the Russian agency Interfax. The diplomat said that the press statement by the President of the UN Security Council concerning the tragic events in Houla was a strong enough signal for the Syrian regime and represents an adequate response by the Security Council. Gatilov commented on calls by the German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle to convene a further meeting of the UN Security Council of the UN. Russian diplomats have also criticized the statement by French President Francois Hollande, who did not rule out Tuesday night an armed intervention under UN mandate in Syria. The French president will meet Friday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will visit France. "We always said we are against any foreign intervention in the Syrian conflict because it will make things worse for Syria and the region and will have unpredictable consequences," stressed Mr. Gatilov. Another Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov said that the declaration of Hollande "had been dictated by emotions."

31 May 2012 Al Masry Al Youm NGO: Troops and Rebels Clash, 39 Killed in Syria

Unclassified Fierce fighting erupted on Wednesday between regime troops and rebels near Damascus and in Homs province, a watchdog said, while reporting 39 more people killed across Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said five people were killed in the Damascus suburb of Douma, a hotbed of anti-regime sentiment, while a civilian was shot dead in Daraya, in the same province. Also in Damascus province, government troops opened fire on mourners attending a mass funeral in Al-Diabiya, killing four, said the Britain-based watchdog. In central Homs province, four people died at Qusayr, scene of earlier explosions, while another five people, including a regular soldier, were killed in the city of Homs, it said. Two people were killed in the region of Hama when fighting took place in the town of Kafarzita between troops and rebels. Later, in Hama city, residents held a general strike to mourn the deaths of the two men.

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In Jabal al-Zawiya, a rebel commander was killed in northeastern Idlib. A sniper shot dead a man at Aleppo in the north, while unidentified gunmen killed an 18-year-old in eastern Deir Ezzor. A rebel fighter was also killed in the same province, the Observatory added. In the same region, visiting UN monitors condemned the killing of 13 people whose bodies were found late Tuesday at Assukar, near Deir Ezzor, many of whom had been shot at close range, they said. A blast struck a pipeline in Deir Ezzor, according to the state news agency SANA, which added that the explosion led to "a fire in the area." Blaming "armed terrorist groups," SANA said this was the second time the pipeline was targeted. At least 14 regular troops, the Observatory said, were killed on Wednesday when checkpoints in Idlib and Hama were targeted. On Tuesday a total of 98 people, including 61 civilians, were killed in violence across Syria amid raging clashes between regime troops and rebels, the Observatory said. More than 13,000 people have been killed, most of them civilians, since the uprising against President Bashar alAssad's regime erupted in March last year, according to the Observatory.

30 May 2012 Al Jazeera Executions Reported in Syria The head of UN observers in Syria, Major-General Robert Mood, said 13 bodies had been discovered in the east of the country, with their hands tied behind their backs and signs that some had been shot in the head from close range. The bodies were discovered late on Tuesday in the area of Assukar, 50km east of Deir al-Zor. "General Mood is deeply disturbed by this appalling and inexcusable act," a statement issued by the observer mission said on Wednesday. "He calls on all parties to exercise restraint and end the cycle of violence for the sake of Syria and the Syrian people." The new violence came as Turkey and Japan became the latest countries to expel Syrian diplomats, joining 11 other nations in protesting against a weekend massacre of more than 108 people in Houla, including women and children. Nevertheless, Syrian forces continued to bombard rebel-held areas in Homs, the main city of the central province where the Houla killings occurred, although no casualties were immediately reported, activists said. Also, activists said troops shelled suburbs of Damascus and rebel-held areas in Homs city on Wednesday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Co-ordination Committees - two opposition activist networks - said at least five people were killed in the Douma, a Damascus suburb.

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Both groups had no details about casualties in Homs. Survivors blamed pro-government armed men for at least some of the carnage in Houla as the killings created revulsion inside Syria and beyond, further isolating President Bashar al-Assad and embarrassing his few remaining allies. The Syrian government denied its troops were behind the killings and blamed "armed terrorists". The UN's top human rights body, plans to hold a special session on Friday to address the massacre. Syria had said it would conclude its own investigation into the Houla deaths by Wednesday, but it was not clear if the findings would be made public. Diplomat expulsions The Houla killings prompted Western nations to expel Syrian diplomats in a co-ordinate protest, with the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria ordering top Syrian diplomats to leave on Tuesday. Syria's state-run media on Wednesday denounced the diplomatic expulsions as "unprecedented hysteria". Turkey, Syria's neighbor and a former close ally, joined the co-ordinate protest on Wednesday. Turkey has been among the most outspoken critics of the Assad government. It closed its embassy in Damascus in March and withdrew the ambassador. Its consulate in Aleppo remains open. The foreign ministry said it ordered the Syrian charge d'affaires and other diplomats at the Syrian embassy in Ankara to leave the country within 72 hours. The consulate in Istanbul will remain open for consular duties only. "It is out of the question to remain silent and without any reaction in the face of this action, which amounts to a crime against humanity," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. "This grave crime against humanity by those who have attempted a massacre of civilians cannot go unpunished." Japan also ordered the Syrian ambassador in Tokyo to leave the country because of concerns about violence against civilians. Japan's foreign minister, Koichiro Genba, said his country was not, however, breaking off diplomatic ties with Syria. In reaction to the expulsion of Syrian diplomats, Syria ordered the Dutch charge d'affaires on Wednesday to leave the country, the foreign ministry said. Russia said the "counterproductive" expulsion of Syrian envoys would only damage existing efforts to end the crisis through talks. "The expulsion of Syrian diplomats from leading Western states seems to us to be counterproductive. After all, vital (diplomatic) channels... end up being closed," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. 'Violent rhythms'

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Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan met Assad on Tuesday in Damascus to try to salvage what was left of his peace plan, which since being negotiated six weeks ago has failed to stop any of the violence. The Al-Baath daily said that the Syrian government would not be intimidated by such "violent rhythms" and would remain standing in front of such "ugly, bloody and dramatic shows". It added that "Syria will not tremble as they think". The Al-Thawra newspaper also criticized the Western decision, calling it an "escalation that aims to besiege Annan's plan and enflame a civil war". Tensions have escalated as more information emerges about the May 25 killings in Houla. The UN's human rights office said most of the 108 victims were shot execution-style at close range, with fewer than 20 people cut down by government shelling. UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said there were strong suspicions that pro-Assad fighters were responsible for some of the killings, casting doubt on allegations that "third elements" - or outside forces - were involved, although he did not rule it out. On Sunday, foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said a committee comprising the ministries of justice, defence and interior was set up to investigate the massacre and would have the job done within three days.
30 May 2012 Naharnet

Syria Expels Dutch Charge Daffaires

Unclassified Syria ordered the Dutch charge d'affaires on Wednesday to leave the country, the foreign ministry said, in an apparent reaction to the expulsion of Syrian diplomats by a slew of Western countries. "Syria is expelling the charge d'affaires of the Netherlands and gives her 72 hours to leave the country," a statement said. On Tuesday, numerous Western nations, including the United States, Britain and France, expelled Syrian diplomats in the wake of a massacre of civilians in Syria over the weekend.

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For its part, the Netherlands declared Syria's ambassador as "persona non-grata" to protest the massacre of at least 108 people in Houla. The decision means Syrian Ambassador Mohammed Ayman Jamil Soussan, who lives in Brussels and whose mission represents Damascus both in Belgium and the Netherlands, will not be received by the Dutch foreign minister or its foreign affairs department. The Netherlands closed its Damascus embassy in March to express the "revulsion we feel in the face of the appalling violence of the Syrian government," Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal said at the time. 31 May 2012 AL ARABIYA Free Syrian Army Leader Urges Annan to Declare Ceasefire Plan Failed

(U)The Free Syrian Army singled out in particular a May 25-26 massacre near the central town of Houla in which more than 100 people died. (Reuters) The commander of Syrias main armed rebel group, the Free Syrian Army, urged international envoy Kofi Annan on Thursday to formally announce that his seven-week-old ceasefire plan had failed, allowing rebels to resume attacks on President Bashar al-Assads forces. Riad al-Asaad also dismissed a 48-hour deadline declared on Wednesday by senior Free Syrian Army officer for Assad to comply with the plan. There is no deadline, but we want Kofi Annan to issue a declaration announcing the failure of this plan so that we would be free to carry out any military operation against the regime, Asaad told a pan-Arab satellite channel, adding that the rebel forces had so far honored their commitments to the plan. From his side, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Syria Thursday to honor its commitment to the peace plan proposed by international mediator Kofi Annan after the massacre in Houla. I demand that the government of Syria act on its commitment to the Annan peace plan, Ban told an Istanbul forum of the U.N.-led Alliance of Civilizations initiative. Earlier, reports suggested that the Free Syrian Army has given the Damascus regime until noon (0900 GMT) Friday to comply with Annans peace plan to end violence in Syria, warning they themselves will quit the truce unless the ultimatum is met. If the Syrian regime does not meet the deadline by Friday midday, the command of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) announces that it will no longer be tied by any commitment to the Annan plan ... and our duty will be ... to defend civilians, a FSA statement said. The suggested ultimatum came as the death toll from assaults by President

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Bashar al-Assads forces on protest hubs spirals and after the U.N. reported two massacres of civilians in the past week, leaving an April 12 truce negotiated by U.N.-Arab League peace envoy Annan in tatters. The FSA had singled out in particular a May 25-26 massacre near the central town of Houla in which more than 100 people died, including 49 children and 34 women. Meanwhile, Senior U.S. senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman said Thursday it was time to arm Syrias opposition as they expressed disgust over a massacre last week blamed on government forces. Its time to act. Its time to give the Syrian opposition the weapons in order to defend themselves. Its not a fair fight, the Republican McCain told reporters in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. McCain is in Muslim-majority Malaysia along with Lieberman, an independent, for a brief visit that included a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Razak on Wednesday and other officials. During their talks, the pair expressed their repugnance and anger and disgust at the behavior of (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad and the recent massacre of innocent women and children, McCain said. The FSA, meanwhile, demanded that the regime adhere to all six points of the Annan plan: an immediate ceasefire; an end to all forms of violence; tanks and armored vehicles out of civilian areas; humanitarian access to all regions; the freeing of political prisoners and protesters; and access by the media to all parts of the country. The FSA also demanded a commitment by Assads regime not to attack the UN observer mission overseeing the truce, and the opening of serious negotiations through the United Nations to deliver power to the people. More than 13,000 people have been killed, mostly civilians, since an uprising erupted against Assads regime in March 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan left Damascus this week with no apparent concessions from the Syrian leader. Civil war U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned on Thursday that the Syrian crisis could lead to a civil war. Ban cited fears, raised on Tuesday by Annan, that Syria may have already reached a "tipping point" following the slaughter of 108 people in Houla last Friday. The April 12 ceasefire, that forms part of Annan's 6-point plan to restore peace, has so far failed to take hold. "The massacre of civilians of the sort seen last weekend could plunge Syria into catastrophic civil war - a civil war from which the country would never recover," the U.N. secretary-general told a conference in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Clinton criticized Russia's resistance to U.N. action on Syria, warning that its policy could contribute to a civil war. The Russians "are telling me they don't want to see a civil war. I have been telling them their policy is going help to contribute to a civil war," she told a mainly student audience on a trip to Copenhagen.

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30 May 2012 Naharnet Syrian Troops Kidnap 2 Citizens as a Third is Released after Being Arrested Since Sunday

Unclassified Syrian troops kidnapped on Wednesday two Lebanese farmers in the border region of al-Abboudiyeh. The residents in the area blocked the international road in protest against the development. Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) identified the two captives as Mohammed Yassine al-Merhi and Hamdan Mehdi Mohammed. VDL (93.3) later said that Mohammed succeeded in escaping from the Syrian troops. LBC television later reported that two people were wounded in the town of al-Hisheh in the border region of Wadi Khaled when gunshots were fired from the Syrian side of the border. VDL (100.5) said that three people were injured in the shooting, identifying them as Darine al-Hassan, 20, Saleh alHassan, 18, and Tamer al-Hassan, 10. Earlier on Wednesday, Lebanese citizen, Nasser Arabi, was released after being arrested by Syrian troops in the outskirts of the town of Kfarqouq in Rashayya on Sunday. His brother told MTV that he was transported to Lebanon from Damascus in MP Faisal al-Daouds vehicle, saying that he is doing well. The Syrian army had opened fire on Saturday against three Lebanese citizens, killing a youth, Rami al-Asmar alNouri, and arresting Arabi. The third citizen, Bilal Zeineddine, managed to escape. Reports speculated that the three individuals were trying to smuggle cigarettes into Syria when they fell victim to an ambush set up by the Syrian forces in the border area of Kfarqouq in northeastern Lebanon.

REGIONAL EDITORIALS (Top)

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30 May 2012 Al Sharaq Al Awsat The Egyptians are asking the Wrong Question! By Tariq Alhomayed The Egyptian people are today asking: who should we vote for in the presidential run-off, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Mursi, or Ahmed Shafiq, whose election would be a return to the Mubarak regime once more? Of course, this question in itself is wrong! In order for Egypt to take the most logical path, according to the art of the possible, the Egyptians must ask the right question, namely: do I want a religious state or a civil state? In a civil state religion is for God and the nation is for all, there must also be rotation of power whilst the ruler rules in the name of the people according to the laws and therefore can be held accountable for everything that he says or does. As for the rulers mission, this is to provide security, stability, and daily bread to the people. Whilst in a religious state, the ruler rules in the name of God, whilst the people must listen and obey, regarding what is permissible and non-permissible. There is no rotation of power and what the unelected General Guide [of the Muslim Brotherhood] says goes, whilst there is no accountability whatsoever; for who can hold somebody who is ruling in the name of God accountable? This is the whole story, without complications. Therefore the names of the candidates are not important here; rather what is important is the political approach that the Egyptians people want for their new post-revolution state. If the Egyptian people are angry with the electoral choices available to them today, then they must acknowledge if only once that they themselves are responsible for the situation reaching this juncture. Is it reasonable, for example, for 23 Egyptians or more to put themselves forward as presidential candidates claiming to represent the revolution? This is truly unbelievable! If the Mubarak regime was so bad, then the Egyptian people must ask themselves: why? Was this over the issue of bequeathing power, or the result of corruption, or the absence of the rotation of power over the past 30 years? This is an important question that the Egyptian people must answer in order to decide who they should vote for during the presidential run-off, for if the Egyptians hate the bequeathal of power, the absence of the rotation of power and corruption then they must vote for the civil state, even if the road ahead is long, particularly as the next president even if it is Shafiq cannot possible be another Mubarak. This is because ever since the beginning of military rule in Egypt, Sadat did not have the powers of Nasser, whilst Mubarak did not have Sadats powers, therefore there can be no doubt that Shafiq will not be able to do what Mubarak did. Whilst if the Egyptians want to build their dreams on the Brotherhoods whims and empty promises which they have broken dozens of times since the revolution surrendering the presidency to them, in addition to their control of parliament, particularly at a time when there is no constitution in Egypt, then they should feel free to vote for the Muslim Brotherhood. However the Egyptians must take into account the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood have failed to put forward a well-known candidate, rather he [Mursi] is a partisan cadre whose candidacy had been forced by necessity following the ineligibility of al-Shaters candidacy. In other words, the Muslim Brotherhood nominated the General Guides choice, and this represents rule from behind the veil, along the lines of rule in Iran, with regards to the Supreme Leader. This is something that also applies to the Hamas movement, where Ismail Haniyeh is the democratically-elected figure whilst Khalid Mishal is truly in charge, as well as Iraq, where elections may take place but the final decision belongs to al-Sistani. This would see Egypt become a state where rule is based on the General Guide, not the constitution. A vote for the civil state would grant the Egyptians four years to arrange their ranks, and allow new leadership figures to emerge, whilst this is something that will never be permitted in a religious state.

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Therefore, logic reveals that the correct question that must be put to the Egyptian people here is: will you choose a religious state or a civil state? This is not about choosing names.

31 May 2012 Dar Al Hayat Roots of Civil War in Syria Abdullah Iskandar The world awaited the massacre in Houla to condemn the horrendousness which has started to govern the confrontation in Syria. And because the world does not consider that killing in itself is horrific, whether it affects individuals or groups, and because it does not deem that this horror emerged with the first bullet fired by the Syrian governmental troops against the first peaceful demonstration in the country, it took the killing of more than a hundred people at the same time for the world to react and for statements of condemnation to be issued against the barbaric behavior of the regimes troops in Damascus. The world awaited the Houla massacre to start warning against the continuation of this governmental violence which will push the country toward civil war, at a time when some spoke about sectarian cleansing and the possible exploitation of this climate by Al-Qaeda to find a pied--terre in Syria. Nonetheless, the preliminary response of the Syrian authorities to the protests since their beginning was characterized by civil violence. This violence was then spread by the regime to expand throughout the country and flow across its border. Today, with the arrival of the mission of international-Arab envoy Kofi Annan and the international position to a crossroads, and the collapse of the first clause in his plan, which calls for the discontinuation of the killing, the country will keep heading toward further civil violence. This clause was thwarted with a governmental will and in an intentional way, especially since the other party on the ground, i.e. the opposition with all its committees and types, seems unable to undertake any action in whichever direction. This description, which is attributed to the opposition, is not due to its current political troubles and its structural impotence, but rather to the roots of its opposition project, even before the eruption of the protests. This description was not altered by the military dissent and the accession of a wide faction to the oppositions action. Indeed, the opposition in all its forms, including the Muslim Brotherhood group, based its project on peaceful democratic change. All its formations thus issued documents and statements stressing this reality, which means that even before the eruption of the protests, they were wagering on dialogue with the authority to push it toward change. And this is what happened in the Spring of Damascus after President Bashar al-Assad succeeded to his father. The opposition failed to detect the roots of the project advocated by the authority when it nipped the Damascus spring in the bud, in parallel to a campaign of arrests and trials in form which affected the majority of those who rushed toward democratic change. In other words, and years before the eruption of the protests and all that accompanied them in terms of talk about armed groups, Salafis, agents to Gulf states, Turkey, the West and AlQaeda, and a conspiracy to undermine rejectionist, before all that, the Syrian regime acted as though it was targeted and as though it will face the reformatory demands rallying the popular majority which is necessarily a sectarian majority based on the sectarian distribution of the population by all means necessary. It is likely that the regime in Syria perceives any serious reform affecting the institutions and political life as being synonym to the return of the sectarian majority to carry out active participation in power, and not just as a forefront controlled by the security apparatuses. This has become clearer since the Hama confrontations at the end of the seventies. It is also likely that this authority now believes it is facing two options, thus continuing to use power and oppression via the apparatuses affiliated with it i.e. where the sectarian influence is concentrated and when this option is weakened as it was seen since the beginning of the protests, it would confront the majority with all its

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31 May 2012

strength and weapons. This was dubbed the security solution, which is in fact the option of civil war. The regime was thus willing to face a possible civil war even before the eruption of the protests, considering that it holds in itself the violence of civil wars.

31 May 2012 Al Jazeera Palestinian Hunger Strikers Breathe Life into Ongoing Egyptian Revolution By Sarah Mousa The stately marble staircase of the Journalists' Syndicate in downtown Cairo, a common setting for protests over decades, slowly filled on a Sunday afternoon in late May. Young activists, dressed in t-shirts expressing disdain for the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, were busy hanging images of fellow protesters now in military detention. One young demonstrator wearing a Guy Fawkes mask - popularized by the revolutionary protagonist in the American film V for Vendetta - climbed a wooden ladder to hang a bold yellow banner that declared "No to Military Trials for Civilians". Egyptians elect first new president in post-Mubarak era The yellow logo and the cause that it represents existed long before the collapse of the Mubarak regime. It was among the several demands of the January 25 revolutionaries, and gained traction in the months after the fall of Mubarak that witnessed the military detention of over 12,000 civilians - more than those detained in the past thirty years. Before the revolution, the cause was championed by the Muslim Brotherhood whose members were often victimized by the state. The Brotherhood's disqualified presidential candidate Khairat el-Shater was among those tried in military court under the Mubarak regime. Striking back against military courts The practice of trying civilians in military courts, illegal under international human rights law, was codified in the Nasser era, and was used by the president and his predecessors as a tool to deter political dissent. The practice finds even deeper roots in British-controlled Egypt when the occupying government used it to circumvent the national judicial system. During the last two decades of the Mubarak era, political activists were subject to military tribunals on trumped charges that often involved terrorism. Under the pretext of maintaining security, the Egyptian government was able to continue the practice with certainty that western governments would turn a blind eye. The SCAF, empowered by emergency laws, has legal support for the military trial of civilians. The opposition movement has had no success in its demand to change these provisions, although on occasion popular outrage has resulted in the release of some prisoners. Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan ends hunger strike The opposition, however, has recently found an unexpected source of inspiration for its cause. In recent months, Palestinians detained in Israel have made waves across the Arab world with a mass hunger strike that, at its height, boasted nearly two thousand participants.

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31 May 2012

The strike was sparked by Khader Adnan, who was released from an Israeli prison after more than two months with no food. The size of the strike as well as the near-death state of several prisoners forced Israel to reconsider conditions for Palestinian prisoners. The relative success of the movement and parallels between the injustice faced by Egyptian and Palestinian prisoners inspired emulation of the hunger strike, a form of protest new to the Arab Spring. On May 20, over one hundred and fifty Egyptians in military detention began a hunger strike, with more expected to join. The strikers demanded an end to the military trial of civilians and the establishment of a civilian committee to investigate the arrest and abuse of peaceful protesters. Other activists demand medical attention for detainees, a number of who sustained severe injuries from torture while detained. Sending a message As activists gathered in front of the Syndicate, they poured into its first floor where many added their names to a long list of those participating in a day-long hunger strike in solidarity with the military detainees. Presidential candidate Khaled Ali was notable among the nearly five hundred fasters. By night time, hundreds flooded the building. The crowd that gathered to launch the strike was a mix of protesters, former detainees, families and friends of current prisoners, as well as a few members of parliament including the Assembly's youngest member, Zyad Elelaimy. The strike sends a strong message to the SCAF, which many suggest has purposely used the threat of economic hardship to dissuade people from demanding greater rights. Nawara Negm, a well-known activist, stood at the front of the crowded lobby, visibly tired from the hunger strike she began that morning, and proclaimed the importance of dignity over bread. A former detainee, Anas, both of his arms broken by officers, recalled his physical torture to the crowd that gathered. The torture, he said, was meant to scare prisoners into silence upon their release. Instead, it outraged him. Comparing his plight to that of Palestinian prisoners, Anas found it atrocious that Egyptians were abused by their own government, after a revolution that supposedly brought more freedom. Anas was given no rights during his detention; he was questioned at late hours, with no notice, and was not permitted to summon a lawyer. In addition to the abuse he suffered, he was forced to watch the torture of fellow prisoners. The attempt to silence Anas by destroying his dignity has only made him more outspoken and, like many other former detainees, even more determined to end the practice of military detention. Starving for justice In recent weeks, the lower house of parliament considered changes to the 1966 Code of Military Justice, which provides the main legal justification for the military trial of civilians. Many hoped that attention from the "postrevolutionary parliament" would result in ending military trials for civilians. "Unlike the many demonstrations that have taken place in Egypt since the fall of Mubarak, this form of protest cannot be simply dispersed through force." Only days after a government round up of over 300 protesters, however, the Assembly maintained most of the provisions and restricted only the right of the president to refer a civilian to military tribunal. In a parliament

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31 May 2012

dominated by representatives affiliated with the MB, at one time the most afflicted group by these provisions, it is quite ironic that little was done to alter the status quo. The Palestinians have recently emerged to fill their role in the Arab Spring. With their introduction of the hunger strike as an effective tool for protest, their impact will likely be felt throughout the region. Unlike the many demonstrations that have taken place in Egypt since the fall of Mubarak, this form of protest cannot be simply dispersed through force. Additionally, the focused demands of the strikers eliminate the confusion that surrounded many recent demonstrations. In the midst of presidential elections, the strike plays an important role in drawing attention to the unanswered demands of the revolution, and fosters new hope that this Mubarak-era practice will be eradicated.

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