Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Israel has been following up developments in Egypt with great concern. Even though the Egyptian Army affirmed that Egypt will respect the 1979 Peace Treaty with Israel, the future relationship remains unclear.

The steps taken by the previous regime towards normalization of their relationship was much against the will of the people. The wind of reform blowing through Arab countries poses a challenge to Israel to change its policies, and also entails a change in western views and attitudes towards Egypt and to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The tremors of the Egyptian upheaval will undoubtedly sound the alarm in Israel.

Ahmad Kamāl 'Abū al-Majd says that the unified law for building places of worship must be passed. He also supports a law to combat discrimination based on origin, gender, or religion.

'Abū al-Majd alleges that the only one who has an interest in creating division in Egypt is the one who want to get rid of Egypt's role in fighting the Zionist Israeli encroachment, implying that Israelis played a role in the recent church attack in Alexandria.

Finally, he says that while the Egyptian constitution calls for equal rights and duties for Muslims and Christians, the present societal situation does not offer such possibilities.

Diana Māhir Ghālī reviews this weekend's opinion articles dealing with the Alexandria church attack...

Diana Māhir Ghālī provides a recap of the Thursday opinion pieces dealing with the Alexandria New Year's day church bombing investigation...

AWR's Diana Māhir Ghālī recaps the opinion pieces from Wednesday's Egyptian newspapers dealing with the New Year's terrorist attack on an Alexandria church...

Cardinal Antonius Najīb, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, talks in this interview with al-Wafd about various current issues facing Egypt.

Regarding the recent debate on divorce and remarriage Najīb said, “Marriage is sacrament built on unity between one man and one woman who will not separate, as long as marriage is built on the right basis."

Dealing with the recent and upcoming elections in Egypt, the Cardinal claims that the majority Muslim population would never vote for a minority Coptic candidate. "Logically, they will vote for the majority. Appointing a fixed parliamentary quota could be a solution,” he said.

Cardinal Najīb is also looking forward to the implementation of a unified law for building places of worship. Further, he believes that politicizing religion and relying on religious rule is unacceptable, whether in Egypt or internationally.

He related the recent Egyptian sectarian violence to a lack of tolerance, dialogue, and social participation. Commenting on recent threats from extremists to Egyptian Copts, “Al-Qā‘idah lacked a reason for this inhuman massacre [referring to the October, 2010 attack on Sayyidat al-Najāh church in Baghdad],”  thanking the Interior Minister and the Azhar for their recent statements deploring the threats.

Finally, Cardinal Najīb also called on global institutions to interfere in solving the Israeli / Palestinian conflict.

Headline: Research Academy Considers Stiffening Penalty to Three Years in Prison for Any Party that Prints Mushaf [original Qur’ānic text, without exegesis or human explanation] with Mistakes
Source: al-Dustūr
Page: 3
Author: Wā’il Fāyiz
Keywords: Mushaf

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Headline: Female American Muslims Attain High Profile Success
Source: al-Sharq al-Awsat
Page: 1
Author: Brian Knowlton
Keywords: Muslim American women, women's rights

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Headline: Getting Away from Extremism and Facilitating Muslims Essential to the Embodiment of a Centrist Islam, Says al-Tayyib
Source: al-Liwā’ al-Islāmī
Page: 1
Author: Muhammad al-Sayyid
Keywords: Ahmad al-Tayyib

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Headline: Dr. ‘Alī Jum‘ah Calls for Spreading Culture of Coexistence
Source: al-Liwā’ al-Islāmī
Page: 1
Author: ‘Abd al-‘azīz ‘abd al-Halīm
Keywords: Dr. ‘Alī Jum‘ah

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Headline: Groups Investigate ‘Umrāniyyah Incidents
Source: Rose al-Yūsuf
Page: 7
Author: Not mentioned
Keywords: ‘Umrāniyyah church riots

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Headline: Pope Shenouda Canceled Visit to Ethiopia for Treatment in United States
Source: Rose al-Yūsuf
Page: 5
Author: Michael ‘Ādil
Keywords: Pope Shenouda

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Headline: Suggestions to Rearrange Hierarchy of Brotherhood to Correct its Path
Source: al-Shurūq al-Jadīd
Page: 1
Author: Muhammad Khayāl
Keywords: Muslim Brotherhood

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Headline: Japan Distributes 50,000 Copies of Muftī's Lecture on Muslim Coexistence with Others
Source: al-Akhbār
Page: 7
Author: Not mentioned
Keywords: Japan, Dr. ‘Alī Jum‘ah, Grand Mufti of Egypt

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Headline: Al-Khudīrī: I Support Egypt Being Ruled by Israeli Jew Like Begin
Source: Rose al-Yūsuf
Page: 1
Author: Muhammad Sha'bān
Keywords: Menachem Begin, Israel

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Headline: Islamist Group: We Are not a Militia that Practices Violence
Source: Rose al-Yūsuf
Page: 7
Author: Not mentioned
Keywords: Muslim Brotherhood

The Cairo Airport Authority is taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of hundreds of Jews coming from Israel to take part in Mawlid celebrations that commemorate the death of Abū Hasīrah Ibn Ya‘qūb, a 19th century Jewish rabbi whose shrine is in Beheira.

The "Over My Land They Won't Cross"and the National Front for Change movements are protesting the annual celebration.

(Reviewer's note: Al Wafd also covered the same story.)

The Ministry of Endowments presented a draft law prohibiting all forms of demonstrations and political activities in mosques.