Latest news with #EgyptianCentreforStrategicStudies
Al-Ahram Weekly
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egyptian, Arab strategists address biased media narratives on Gaza war at Cairo conference - Foreign Affairs
Prominent Egyptian and Arab strategists, politicians, and media experts addressed in a day-long conference titled "Gaza & the Future of Peace and Stability in the Middle East," held on Wednesday, the biased media narratives on the Israeli war on Gaza and the demographic impact of Palestinians' displacement. The conference, organised by the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS) and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA), explored Arab-led counter-initiatives and reconstruction plans in response to US-Israeli proposals to displace Palestinians from Gaza. Western media's pro-Israel bias In the third session, "The US Stance on the Gaza War and its Regional Implications," Ezzat Ibrahim, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Ahram Weekly and Head of the ECSS Media and Human Rights Unit, pointed to a clear pro-Israel bias in Western media coverage. Speaking at a panel titled "US Media Bias in Covering the Gaza War: Analysing Key Biases in US Media and the Convergence of US and Israeli Right-Wing Narratives," Ibrahim argued that the Zionist lobby plays a significant role in shaping how the conflict is portrayed. "Since the war began, about 75 percent of articles have framed it as a fight between Hamas and Israel," he noted, pointing out that Israeli events receive far more media attention than the suffering in Gaza. "The conflict is being framed as a battle between two equal sides, with victimhood narratives exaggerated to justify the occupier's actions," he added, criticising the lack of scrutiny toward Israeli religious discourse. He explained how the media crafts a pro-Israel narrative—by labelling Palestinian attacks as "unjustified" to strip them of context and by downplaying or omitting reports on Israeli aggression. Ibrahim stressed the importance of engaging with major news outlets and using social media strategically to promote a more balanced portrayal of the Palestinian cause. Egypt's role in Gaza reconstruction During another panel, Abdel-Moneim Said, Member of the Egyptian Senate and Head of the ECSS Advisory Board, highlighted Egypt's deep experience in crisis management, calling it the key guarantor in any mediation efforts. Speaking at "The Evaluation of US Efforts in Reconstruction Projects as Part of the Peacebuilding Process," Said argued that the two-state solution must remain at the heart of all Arab and international peace efforts. "The US is the 'present absentee' in this crisis, yet it remains a key player in ceasefire agreements," he said, referencing its historical role in managing regional conflicts and ensuring commitments are upheld. The demographic impact of displacement In the fourth session, "Implications of Displacement and Resettlement Plans for Regional Security," Dr. Mohamed Megahed El-Zayat, Academic Adviser at the ECSS, outlined three competing political projects shaping the region. The first, he said, is Israel's push to displace Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank while expanding further into Syria. The second is Turkey's ongoing efforts to alter Syria's demographics. The third is Iran's broader regional ambitions. Meanwhile, Dr Khaled Hanafi, an ECSS expert, described the Middle East as one of the world's hardest-hit regions by forced displacement, with one in three global cases occurring there. Speaking at "The Impact of Demographic Change on Crises in the Middle East," Hanafi explored how displacement fuels ethno-sectarian fragmentation across the region. Gulf security amid displacement plans In another session, "The Impact of Displacement and Resettlement on Security in the Gulf," Dr Hassan Abu Taleb, an ECSS Advisory Board Member, called forced displacement a war crime and stressed the need to focus on both its perpetrators and those enabling it. "The displacement crisis has major security implications for the Gulf," he warned, noting that the region's stability is directly tied to the global economy and international interests. Dr. Abdulaziz bin Othman bin Sager, Founder and Chairman of the Gulf Research Centre, reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's firm rejection of any plans to displace Palestinians, calling such actions a blatant violation of international law and Palestinian rights. "The Kingdom views the two-state solution as the only viable path forward," he said, emphasising Saudi Arabia's steadfast support for Palestinian rights and its opposition to any forced resettlement schemes. Held just days before the Cairo emergency Arab summit on Palestine, the event aims to counter US proposals for forced Palestinian displacement while showcasing successful regional and international post-conflict reconstruction efforts that protect native populations. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Trump 'craziest ever' proposal for Gaza will ‘die on its own': Thomas Friedman at Cairo conference on Gaza - Foreign Affairs
Renowned New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman described President Donald Trump's proposal to 'clean out' Gaza as the 'craziest ever' presented for the Arab-Israeli conflict, stressing that it will 'die on its own.' Friedman made these remarks on Wednesday in a speech before the "Gaza and the Future of Peace and Stability in the Middle East" conference in Cairo, which is organized by the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS) and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA). During the conference's third session, "The US Stance on the Gaza War and Its Regional Implications," Friedman assessed the impact of Trump's Gaza proposal on Middle East peace prospects. He noted that realizing the recklessness of his proposal, Trump had already begun to backtrack. "Trump abandoned his relocation proposal after realizing its irrationality, but tensions remain," Friedman said. He criticized the proposal as "illogical," "impractical," and "unreasonable," emphasizing the crucial role of Arab states in Gaza's reconstruction and security. Earlier in February, Trump proposed that Washington take control of Gaza, forcibly displace its native Palestinian population, and build a "Middle East Riviera." Trump's proposal sparked a global outcry. The US president had cited Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab countries as possible destinations for the Palestinians. Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab nations, in return, immediately rejected the idea, which they perceived to be an unacceptable injustice that infringed on the historical and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and threatened regional stability. Furthermore, Friedman predicted a "political conflict" between the US president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "There will be a political conflict between Trump and Netanyahu, as US interests rely on preventing China's expansion in the Middle East and establishing a broad alliance network stretching from East Asia through India to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Europe," he said. Friedman reaffirmed his support for the two-state solution, warning that the alternative, "no state," would be "disastrous." He also stressed that preparations for a Palestinian state should involve a Palestinian constitution and institutional reforms, a halt to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and reduced pressure on Palestinians. In addition, he warned that Trump's insistence on pushing through his proposals would "destabilize Egypt and Jordan," contradict US regional interests, and, therefore, trigger a "diplomatic rift". "With the Middle East serving as ground zero for failed states, Egypt's resilience and strength stand out as an increasingly rare and vital force in the region," Friedman concluded. The conference kicked off earlier on Wednesday to dismantle and refute the American vision of forcibly displacing Palestinians from Gaza. It also highlights regional and international experiences in post-conflict reconstruction without displacing populations. Egypt is preparing a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of the heavily devastated Gaza Strip without displacing the Palestinians. The plan will be presented on 4 March at the Cairo Emergency Arab Summit. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
04-02-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt and the US: Maintaining strategic ties - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Officials in Egypt and the US have confirmed their keenness to keep strategic relations between the two countries intact, reports Gamal Essam El-Din President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and his US counterpart Donald Trump spoke over the phone on Saturday to discuss the complex issues and crises that the Middle East region is going through. Al-Sisi extended an invitation to Trump to visit Egypt to strengthen strategic relations between the two countries, which have spanned more than four decades, and to work to raise the level of bilateral relations in all political, military, economic, and development fields in a way that achieves common Egyptian-US interests. Two phone calls also took place between Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week, during which the two officials discussed the close strategic partnership between Cairo and Washington and the common desire to advance bilateral cooperation in various fields in a way that contributes to consolidating the partnership and enhancing efforts aimed at confronting various regional challenges. Hassan Salama, a professor of political science, said it was important for officials in Egypt and the US to continue the coordination between the two countries in the light of the crises the region is passing through. 'The call between Al-Sisi and Trump reflects the depth of the strategic relations between Egypt and the US as they share common interests on many issues, in addition to exchanging views on political issues, especially as Egypt is a country that has a massive influence in the region,' Salama said. Salama agreed that US assistance to Egypt has played a central role in Egypt's economic and military development and in furthering the US-Egypt strategic partnership and regional stability. Since 1978, the US has provided Egypt with over $50 billion in military aid and $30 billion in economic assistance, according to a study conducted by the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS), a think tank. However, Salama believes that it would be wrong to portray the strategic relations between the two countries as only dependent on military and economic assistance provided by the US to Egypt, or that there would not be strategic relations if the US decided to cancel its assistance or withhold it. 'The two countries have continued to maintain strategic relations despite the fact that since 2011 several US administrations have decided to decrease the economic assistance and withhold large sums of the military aid,' Salama said. In 1978, US aid constituted approximately 6.4 per cent of Egypt's GDP, but today it is less than half a per cent, said the ECSS study. The US military aid currently stands at $1.3 billion, while economic assistance does not exceed $129 million. Egypt has also moved to diversify its armament sources since former US president Barack Obama froze military aid to Egypt in 2013 after the ouster of late president Mohamed Morsi. Egypt's arms imports from Russia, France, Germany, and Italy have surged, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. A study by the ECSS confirmed that Egypt and the US have close and stable relations that have not been affected by the change in US administrations and are based on a strong strategic partnership to achieve common goals and interests. 'The US is the world's only superpower and has a leading role in all global and regional issues, while Egypt has a pivotal role in the Middle East, Africa, and the Islamic world. As a result, the Egypt-US strategic partnership is critical not only to the stability of the Middle East and North Africa, but also as a bulwark against global terrorism and violent extremism,' said the study. Egypt and the US inaugurated a strategic dialogue in 2015. The two countries said persistent challenges in the Middle East required continuing and strengthening cooperation between them. Egypt has long been among the most reliable and influential allies of the US in the region, and Egypt's regional leadership, skilled and educated population, and geo-strategic location render it an invaluable partner in advancing a broad range of mutual interests. The ECSS study said Egypt and the US decided to establish strategic relations for different reasons. The US believes that Egypt is pursuing an active foreign policy that has made it an influential player on the Arab, Mediterranean, and African levels that cannot be ignored. This includes in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in Egypt's role in mediating a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, and in Egypt's influence in Libya, Sudan, and the Arab Gulf countries, said the study. It said that Egypt's position as the Arab world's major military power is another reason that has made its relations with the US strategic. 'There is no question that part of the strategic partnership between the two countries lies in the military field,' said the study, adding that Egyptian-US military cooperation is essential to maintaining the regional balance and a prerequisite for stability in the region. It had been helped, said the study, by Egypt's accession in April 2021 to the Combined Maritime Forces of the US Naval Command, a 34-nation naval partnership to combat terrorism, prevent piracy, and encourage regional cooperation. On 24 January, Rubio announced a freeze on US aid funding, with the exception of military aid to Egypt and Israel. 'This decision concerning Egypt is linked to its strategic partnership with the US, in recognition of its influential role in the region and its peace treaty with Israel,' said Salama. The two countries also have a shared interest in combating terrorism. According to the ECSS study, the US views Egypt's stability as key to regional stability, and it is keen to maintain a security partnership with it to strengthen the Egyptian Armed Forces and their ability to combat terrorism. 'To this end, Washington has provided Cairo with attack helicopters to assist in fighting terrorism in North Sinai as well as conducting joint military exercises with the Egyptian army,' said the study. Egypt has helped successive US governments to penetrate terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) by relying on well-trained intelligence agents. Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, visited Cairo last year to strengthen counterterrorism relations between Egypt and the US. The US keenness to preserve the 1979 Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel as a cornerstone of stability in the region is another reason that has made relations between the two countries strategic, said the study. The Suez Canal is also a major axis of US interests in Egypt. Washington needs to ensure that the Suez Canal remains open, both as a space for US aircraft and as a waterway for giant ships. 'This requires ensuring the security of the canal and maintaining strategic relations with Cairo,' said the study, adding that 'US ships enjoy preferential treatment in times of emergency in the Suez Canal and are allowed to bypass ships waiting at its entrance.' * A version of this article appears in print in the 6 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt committed to all constants of the Palestinian cause: ECSS deputy director - Foreign Affairs
Deputy Director of the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS) Mohamed Ibrahim Eldawiry asserted on Monday that Egypt will remain committed to all the constants of the Palestinian cause and will never deviate from them under any circumstances. 'This is the right of the Palestinian people who trust Egypt, its people and its leadership and we will never let them down,' he pointed out. "Any talk about displacing the residents of Gaza or the West Bank to other countries or similar statements about the impossibility of implementing the two-state solution is all imaginary and unfair,' he told the Egyptian news agency MENA. Eldawiry made his comment following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting the relocation of the Palestinians from Gaza into neighboring countries including Egypt and Jordan. The Palestinian people will never give up their land, regardless of the nature of the projects that aim to uproot them from their land. 'The heroic residents of the Gaza Strip did not leave their land despite the war that targeted people and property, setting the most wonderful examples of how to be an integral part of the homeland,' he was quoted as saying. The proposals for Palestinians' displacement can only lead to more tension and instability in the region, and may even encourage Israel to further implement its extremist policies towards the Palestinians, whether in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank, where Israel is paving the way to impose sovereignty. Eldawiry called on the international community to seek a just solution to the Palestinian cause and to exert even a small effort in this area, as has been the case with both Egypt and Qatar in securing a truce agreement after 15 months of the Israeli war. 'The entire world, which has been an observer of the genocidal war on Gaza, must take serious action, even once, and abandon the policy of double standards and exert some pressure on Israel to first implement the truce agreement to allow for the resumption of the peace process,' he stressed. Egypt, he noted, is ready to do everything necessary to start a political process that brings together all concerned parties in a negotiating path that must take place soon in order to achieve stability in the region. "The question I am asking here, following the humanitarian catastrophe that the world witnessed in Gaza, is: when will the international community move to restore the usurped rights of the Palestinian people and establish their state in the area that they accepted, which is 22 percent of the land of historical Palestine, and what is it waiting for?" The international community – rather than talking about the displacement of the Palestinian population – must deal more justly and logically with the just Palestinian cause to facilitate the establishment of their independent state. Short link:
