Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The step coincides with the major breakthrough achieved by Islamists in the first and second round of Egypt's parliamentary elections.

An informed source said the decision, which falls a few days before the Christmas and New Year celebrations, also included decrease in customs exemptions on only one bottle of alcohol instead of four and only one packet of cigarettes instead of four. [Hishām Yassa and Yūsuf al-'Ūmī, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Dec. 26, p. 4] Read the original text in Arabic

Sawirus, the founder of the Free Egyptians Party, called on the Muslim Brotherhood to reveal their budget for the election campaign and spending on the candidates of the Freed and Justice Party (FJP), the Brotherhood's political arm. 

"An Arab leader had asked me to notify security (intelligence) bodies about the sum of $100 million received by the Muslim Brotherhood from foreign parties since the outbreak of the January 25 revolution," Sawirus told Misr al-Jadīdah (New Egypt) TV show host Mu'taz al-Dimirdāsh. [Ayah 'Āmir, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Dec. 26, p. 4] Read the original text in Arabic

[Reviewer's Note: News reports of the same content were published by al-Akhbār of Dec. 26, p. 6 and al-Wafd of Dec. 26, p. 5]

Meanwhile, Grand Shaykh of the Azhar Ahmad al-Tayīb said that the core and crux of the top Sunni establishment's survival is its moderation in intellect and behavior. 

"The Azhar's curricula help the society maintain its belief and faith in the face of any extremism or deviation," Tayīb said during a meeting with Kuwaiti Undersecretary of Education and his accompanying delegation. [Muhammad Zayn al-'Ābidīn, al-Jumhūrīyah, Dec. 26, p. 19] Read The Original Text in Arabic

In an opinion article in al-Ahrām of Dec. 26, Dr. Safwat al-Bayādī, Head of the Evangelical Community Council in Egypt, said during the past few days – after the deplorable incidents off the cabinet office and the burning of the Institut D'Egypte, some there were many questions about Christians' fears regarding the Islamists. 

There has to be cooperation among all groups within the society until the boat that carries us all is anchored to safety. [Dr. Safwat al-Bayādī, al-Ahrām, Dec. 26, p. 12] Read the original text in Arabic