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Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Potluck brings together different faiths for fellowship, talk of world events
It was an evening of faith, food and fellowship as some 100 folks from a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds came together. Participants from throughout Northwest Indiana gathered on Thursday to dine together at a potluck dinner, to promote social justice and to build strong communities. The inaugural gathering of what is called Interfaith Potluck, Building Bridges Coalition was held at the Northwest Indiana Islamic Center in Merrillville. The purpose of the gathering was to bring about better understanding and to eliminate the divisiveness among people in the area no matter what their religious beliefs or backgrounds, event spokesman Ferass Safadi said. 'This is the first event with plans to hold it quarterly and possibly bring it back in October,' Safadi said. Jawad Nammari, a youth volunteer at Northwest Indiana Islamic Center, called it a joint effort between communities. 'We're a people of peace. We're a people of love and justice,' Nammari said. Those in attendance had been encouraged on the center's website to bring a dish to share. 'This special evening is more than just a meal — it's an opportunity to connect across faiths, build meaningful relationships, and work together toward greater social justice in our communities,' the website said. Religious leaders who spoke at the meeting included Rabbi Diane Tracht of the Temple Israel in Gary; Iman Mongy El-Quesny of the Northwest Indiana Islamic Center; Pastor Rameem Jackson of St. Timothy Community Church in Gary; and the Rev. Tom Bozeman of the First Unitarian Church of Hobart Calumet Region. The Rev. Leah Peksenak of the Hobart First United Methodist Church and Marquette Park United Methodist Church in Gary emceed and posed questions to the religious leaders. 'What we are hoping is that this is the first of many conversations,' Peksenak said. Attendees, including Sarita Villarreal of Hobart and Maryalice Larson of Valparaiso, were also given the chance to ask questions of the religious leaders and to voice their opinions. The thought-provoking questions Peksenak asked of the religious leaders included their feelings on social justice, what social justice tradition they were most proud of, their biggest challenge and in what areas were improvements still needed. Although responses from the religious leaders remained civil and thoughtful, talk included continuing unrest in the world including between Israel and Palestine and Ukraine and Russia. Rabbi Tracht said for her Gaza and Israel would be the 'elephant in the room.' 'The starvation of those living in Gaza is an abomination,' Tracht said. Iman Mongy El-Quesny, a native of Egypt, said he was living in the Middle East in 1979 when the Egypt-Israel peace treaty was signed by Anwar Sadat, the president of Egypt, and Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of Israel. 'We cherish that peace accord. We lived together. We are cousins,' El-Quesny said. He said he blames politicians for creating problems between people. 'The issue is politicians. They are small in number but loud in voice,' he said. El-Quesny encouraged those in attendance not to be silent and to love themselves first. 'We are all the children of Adam. We are all the children of God. He wants us to cherish one another and to love one another. That's what God wants from us,' El-Quesny said.
Al-Ahram Weekly
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt Journalists Syndicate condemns Israeli officials' provocative statements on Sinai - Foreign Affairs
The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate on Tuesday condemned the recent provocative statements made by Israeli officials concerning Sinai. The Syndicate described the remarks as a blatant infringement on Egypt's sovereignty and a direct challenge to the country's right to strengthen its military and defense presence across all its territory. Moreover, the Syndicate condemned recent Israeli calls for forced evacuation of Rafah and forcible displacement of Gaza's residents, describing them as a continuation of the brutal aggression and an attempt to criminalise defenseless civilians under false pretexts. Israeli media, citing senior officials, reported on Monday that Israel claimed that the number of forces Egypt had deployed in Sinai exceeds that prescribed by the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries. In addition, Israel claimed that Egypt had expanded port facilities and extended airport runways — actions they said constitute a violation of the Egypt-Israel 1979 peace treaty. On Monday, the Israeli military issued broad evacuation orders across much of Rafah, signaling the potential launch of a new large-scale ground operation in Gaza's southernmost city. The Syndicate's statement described Israeli officials' remarks as a desperate attempt to divert attention from the atrocities the occupation forces committed against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip—particularly in Rafah. Rejecting displacement and demanding justice The Syndicate stated that Israel was not fighting a legitimate war in Gaza but perpetrating a systematic genocide against an unarmed population. It called for immediate Arab and international action to halt the massacres and prosecute the occupation's leaders as war criminals before international courts. In this context, the Syndicate reaffirmed that it categorically rejects all displacement plans and that the international community—especially the United States and Europe— should be held accountable for their shameful complicity in these crimes through ongoing political and military support for Israel. Moreover, the Syndicate denounced what it described as "shameful Arab silence" before the Israeli occupation army's atrocities against the Palestinian people, which constitute one of the most extensive ethnic cleansing operations in modern history. The Syndicate also voiced its full support for all Egyptian state institutions' measures to exercise full national sovereignty over the country's borders in Sinai. Call for global action In its statement, the Syndicate called for reviewing and immediately suspending the Camp David Accords in retaliation for Israel's recent provocative statements and repeated violations. The Syndicate also called for immediately opening all crossings to humanitarian aid and lifting the inhumane siege. It called for protecting Palestinian journalists, whose blood was spilled for reporting the truth, and for holding Israel accountable for deliberately targeting them. In conclusion, the Syndicate called on all media and human rights institutions to expose Israeli practices and reveal the falsity of its narrative. It also urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the United Nations to impose international sanctions on Israel. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Asharq Al-Awsat
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel Wary of Egypt's 'Military Infrastructure' in Sinai: Peace Treaty at Risk?
Israel has voiced growing concerns over Egypt's military presence in the Sinai Peninsula, fearing a potential escalation between the two sides amid the ongoing Gaza war. Israeli media reports said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has asked both Washington and Cairo to dismantle what it describes as a 'military infrastructure' established by the Egyptian army in Sinai. However, an informed Egyptian source and experts cited by Asharq Al-Awsat insisted that Egypt has not violated its peace treaty with Israel. They argued that Cairo's military movements are a response to Israeli breaches of the agreement. Israel's Israel Hayom newspaper, citing a senior Israeli security official, reported that Egypt's military buildup in Sinai constitutes a 'major violation' of the security annex of the peace treaty. The official said the issue is a top priority for Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, stressing that Israel 'will not accept this situation' amid what it views as Egypt's growing military footprint in the peninsula. The official added that the issue goes beyond the deployment of Egyptian forces in Sinai exceeding the quotas set under the military annex of the Camp David Accords. The real concern, he said, lies in Egypt's continued military buildup in the peninsula, which Israel views as an irreversible step. Moreover, he stressed that while Israel is not seeking to amend its peace treaty with Egypt or redeploy troops along the border, it believes the current situation requires urgent action to prevent a potential escalation. Egypt-Israel relations have not seen such tensions since the outbreak of the Gaza war, particularly after Israel violated a ceasefire agreement with Hamas brokered primarily by Egypt. Israeli forces resumed airstrikes on Gaza last month and failed to fulfill their commitments to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor and Palestinian border crossings. A senior Egyptian source dismissed Israel's accusations, telling Asharq Al-Awsat that 'these repeated Israeli pretexts ignore the fact that Israeli forces have violated the peace treaty, seizing control of areas where Egypt objects to their presence without the necessary coordination with Cairo.' Egypt has the right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its national security against any threats, emphasized the source. 'Nevertheless, Cairo remains fully committed to the peace treaty and has no intention of aggression against any party,' it added. Israeli forces seized control of the Gaza-Egypt border, including the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah crossing, in May 2024. Israel has accused Egypt of not doing enough to stop weapons smuggling into Gaza through border tunnels—an allegation Cairo has denied. Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which Israel later broke, Israeli forces were supposed to begin withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor on March 1, completing the pullout within eight days. However, Israel failed to do so and instead resumed airstrikes on Gaza. Israel also announced the creation of an administration aimed at facilitating the 'voluntary departure' of Gaza residents, a move Cairo strongly rejected and formally condemned. Egypt has insisted that Palestinians must remain in their homeland and has put forward a reconstruction plan for Gaza and called for the implementation of the two-state solution. The plan was endorsed at an emergency Arab summit three weeks ago. Media reports have indicated that Egypt responded to Israel's control of the Gaza border by increasing its military presence near the frontier—an act that some Israeli officials claim violates the peace treaty and threatens Israel's security. Former Egyptian intelligence official Gen. Mohammed Rashad told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel itself violated the peace treaty by seizing the Philadelphi Corridor, controlling border crossings, and blocking aid to Gaza while seeking to forcibly displace Palestinians into Egypt. 'Every Israeli action along Gaza's border with Egypt constitutes hostile behavior against Egypt's national security,' said Rashad, who previously headed the Israeli military affairs division in Egypt's intelligence service. 'Egypt cannot sit idly by in the face of such threats and must prepare for all possible scenarios.' The Philadelphi Corridor is a strategically sensitive buffer zone, serving as a narrow 14-kilometer passage between Egypt, Israel, and Gaza, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south. Military expert General Samir Farag insisted that Egypt has not violated the peace treaty or its security annex in over 40 years, arguing that Israel has repeatedly breached the agreement and is attempting to shift blame onto Cairo. 'Israel is doing this to distract from its internal problems, including public discontent over its ballooning defense budget,' Farag told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'It also wants to deflect attention from Egypt's reconstruction plan for Gaza and leverage its claims to pressure the United States for more military aid by portraying Egypt as a threat.' Farag emphasized that Egypt's actions are solely aimed at protecting its national security, adding: 'There is no clause in the peace treaty that prevents a country from defending itself.' 'The so-called 'military infrastructure' Israel refers to consists of roads and development projects in Sinai.' 'The US has satellite surveillance over the region—if Egypt had violated the treaty, Washington would have flagged it. Moreover, security coordination between Egypt and Israel continues daily,' he explained. Egypt and Israel signed their landmark peace treaty on March 25, 1979, committing to resolving disputes peacefully and prohibiting the use or threat of force. The agreement also established military deployment guidelines and a joint security coordination committee. Meanwhile, US Republican Party member Tom Harb told Asharq Al-Awsat that Washington has received intelligence from multiple sources indicating that Egypt has amassed a significant military force in Sinai. Israel considers this a breach of the peace treaty, which designates Sinai as a demilitarized zone to prevent surprises like the 1973 war, Harb said. While the US fully supports Israel's concerns, it also wants to prevent further escalation, as that would destabilize the region, he added. Ultimately, Egypt must clarify whether its troop movements are aimed at threatening Israel or preventing Palestinians from crossing into Egyptian territory, he stated.
Egypt Today
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Sisi highlights 1979 treaty with Israel, says Egypt always chooses peace
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi addresses students at the Egyptian Military Academy during an inspection visit, 7 March 2025 - Egyptian Presidency CAIRO – 7 March 2025: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi referenced the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty in his address at the Egyptian Military Academy on Friday, highlighting Egypt's efforts, in collaboration with global partners, to end the ongoing war in Gaza. 'We were the first [Arab] country to sign a peace agreement [with Israel] in 1979. We had a remarkable experience at that time. There was no one talking about peace, and President [Anwar] Al Sadat's proposal for this issue was a topic of great discussion and had significant impacts at the time,' Sisi stated. The president emphasized that Egypt has always chosen peace, underscoring the nation's positive role in settling conflicts with a focus on achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid, and securing the release of captives. "Egypt's choice is always peace, and it is the best option because the money spent on wars could instead be invested in reconstruction and development. Even those who win in war find that the costs associated with achieving that victory have a significant impact on their economy,' Sisi said. He stressed that Egypt is working with partners in Europe and the United States to bring an end to the war in Gaza. Hamas has warned that US President Donald Trump's 'last warning' to the movement, demanding the release of all remaining captives in Gaza 'or THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY,' only complicates the ceasefire agreement#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps:// — Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 7, 2025 Sisi also highlighted Egypt's proposal for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which was endorsed by Arab leaders during an extraordinary summit in Cairo on Tuesday, describing the plan as "executable." He noted that all state institutions worked on the plan, including the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Housing, and the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. "All of these have collaborated to create a comprehensive and executable document," Sisi said. Arab leaders on Tuesday endorsed an Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction, aimed to provide an alternative to a proposal unveiled by US President Donald Trump to 'take over' Gaza and turn it into the 'Riviera of the Middle East#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps:// — Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 6, 2025 ARAB SUMMIT The Arab-endorsed Egyptian plan aims to rebuild Gaza after nearly a year and a half of Israeli war that devastated more than 60 percent of homes and 65 percent of roads in the Strip, according to UN estimates. The war was halted by a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. The agreement took effect on January 19 but is currently facing a deadlock in negotiations following the expiry of the first phase. Hamas and the Arab mediators are pushing for a transition to the second phase of the agreement, which aims to end the war and allow reconstruction to begin. However, Israel seeks to extend the first phase, which involves an exchange of Israeli captives held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails without obligation to end to the war. Tel Aviv has halted humanitarian aid to Gaza since last Sunday in response to Hamas's rejection of the Israeli ceasefire extension proposal. ARAB-BACKED PLAN Egypt has prepared the reconstruction plan in coordination with Arab nations, countering Israeli-US plans that aim to relocate residents permanently outside their lands, particularly to Egypt and Qatar. The $53 billion Arab counterplan adopts a five-year timeframe for reconstruction of post-war Gaza, according to a document obtained by local and foreign media outlets. The plan ensures that Gaza residents remain on their lands while their homes and facilities are being reconstructed. The multi-phase plan will secure housing units for the population in Gaza, remove millions of tons of debris, and develop an industrial zone, fishing and commercial ports, and an airport. For post-war governance, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated during the summit that the Palestinian Authority will reassume control over the Gaza Strip under the plan. Sisi during the summit highlighted Egypt's efforts to form 'an administrative committee comprising Palestinian professionals and independent technocrats, entrusted with managing the Gaza Strip' after the war. He added that this committee will be responsible for overseeing Gaza during a temporary period and supervising the relief process, in preparation for the return of the Palestinian Authority to the enclave.
New York Times
28-02-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
What's Next for the Gaza Truce? Look at the Border With Egypt.
As the first phase of the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas winds down this weekend, the future of the truce remains murky. What happens in a key strip of land along the border between Egypt and Gaza in the coming week could provide an indication of how things will move forward. Israel is supposed to begin withdrawing troops on Sunday from the border area, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, and leave it completely by the following weekend. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has long said that Israeli control there is a core security national interest, injecting uncertainty over this step. Here's what to look for in the coming days. An eight-mile strip of land that divides Gaza from Egypt, the Philadelphi Corridor emerged as a major sticking point in cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas. The border, which divides the city of Rafah, was set up under the Egypt-Israel peace treaty of 1979. Detail area Mediterranean Sea Gaza City Cairo SINAI PENINSULA EGYPT gaza strip 100 miles PhiladelphI Corridor israel Rafah EGYPT 5 miles By The New York Times After Hamas seized full control of Gaza in 2007, its fighters and officials oversaw the enclave's border with Egypt and the Rafah crossing, the only exit from Gaza to the outside world not directly overseen by Israel. Israeli officials have argued that Hamas smuggled in arms and materiel for its fighters from across the Egyptian border. In September, Mr. Netanyahu called the Philadelphi Corridor 'Hamas's oxygen valve.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
