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Happy Arafat Day

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Today nearly 3 million Muslim pilgrims climbed to Mount Arafat in one of the climax rituals of pilgrimage in Islam. It makes me shiver when I see those photos and footage showing millions escalating the mount.


Hopefully one day I will be blogging from there.
Happy Arafat and happy fasting to all Muslims around the globe.

Happy Eid Al Adha ”2012”

Only 1980s Generation will relate

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Just like the Baby boomers and Generation-X we got in Egypt the 1980s Generation and the 1990s generation. The 1980s Generation will relate to these funny videos from El Balakona Channel.

By the way when historians , political analysts, sociologists and researchers start to write down about the #January25 revolution , I think they will stand a lot in front of the the 1980s generation and how this generation was the true force behind a political event that changed the fate of Egypt and may be the Arab world too.

Terrorist cells, corrupted intelligence officers and possible assassination plots … welcome to Cairo Action !!

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Last Wednesday news broke out in the media that a terrorist cell was arrested in Nasr City and that a terrorist was killed during the operation. There were no much details available especially we are speaking about last Wednesday that witnessed bad weather , horrible traffic jam and the great escape from Cairo to all resorts before the Eid Adha big holiday.
The security forces announced that the cell included two Libyans , two Tunisians and one Egyptian. One Libyan was killed in a crossfire with security forces. There are many juicy parts in the whole affair about their training and their plans to blow up important locations in Cairo.
According to sources that Libyan terrorist is allegedly connected to the murder of the US Ambassador in Tripoli last September 2012 and he used the alias name of “Nabil” and “Hazim”  in Egypt. If you think that this is getting deeply interesting and distributing at the same time , I think you should wait for awhile because it is getting more interesting by the minute.
Now again according to source that Libyan terrorist was provided by arms allegedly through corrupted Egyptian intelligence “GIS” officer and according to the same sources he is the same corrupted GIS officer involved in the murder of a police officer last September by hands of arms dealers gang. Some unnamed security source told Al Hayat that this officer was actually a former security officer without mentioning his work.
Last September a young police officer was killed when he tried to bust some arms dealers including another corrupted police officer and corrupted GIS officer. The case has been investigated since then and we do not know any further updates.
It is not a big secret that like in any corrupted third world country many arms dealers have been former army officers or police officers or intelligence officers.
Al Hayat also claimed that the Egyptian intelligence is investigating the whole affair. It is worth to remind you that this was the mission of the State security in the past , may be because there is foreign parties involved in the matter , the GIS had to be involved.
Another interesting mentioned by the Pan Arab newspaper also well that ambiguous Pro-Omar Suleiman twitter account “Military secret” is the connection between the Jihadist Salafist groups in Sinai and that cell as well Al Qaeda.
Both are claiming that the cell was related to the Militant groups in Sinai that already include many Al Qaeda members that came to Sinai. Also these cell of Al Qaeda have moved from Sinai to several governorates including Cairo, Giza, Al Gharbia and Suez.
Dramatic Military Secrets of course claimed that the Nasr City cell plans revealed that there was a plot to assassinate President Morsi !!
Mohamed Omar Abdel Rahman , the son of the infamous Omar Abdel Rahman and the leading member of Al Gama’a Al Islamiyaa denied any relation between Al Qaeda and that cell as well Al Gama’a Al Islamiyaa and that cell in statements to Al Mesryoon newspaper adding that Ben Laden allegedly refused to do operations in the Arab countries !!
Again we need transparency for God sake because the more silent our security apparatuses  , the more rumors will be spread unfortunately by these terrorists and their supporters.

Update :

Tweep @7az1m who seems to be a former prisoner from radical Islamist groups claims that the officer arrested in Nasr City events was Sheikh Tarek Abu El Azm , a former army officer who was arrested in time of Mubarak for his Salafist Jihadist beliefs in 2002. Abu EL Azm was allegedly released after the revolution.
That tweep claimed that the alleged terrorist killed in the confrontation with the police was not Libyan but rather Egyptian !!
“The dear brother that was killed in Nasr City was not a Libyan but rather Egyptian imprisoned with us” said the tweep using Abu Hamza Al Masry
Egyptian Hazm as he calls himself is claiming that this cell actually was smuggling arms from Libya to Palestine and that they were not involved in the operations in Sinai or what happened in the US embassy in Tripoli

Hey Girls , Your boyfriend in online now !!

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Ali is online now 
Ok this is for all the girls who love the new official Spokesperson Colonel Ahmed Mohamed Ali , the army seems to hear my screams on twitter and decided to open for the official spokesperson an official twitter account : @Egyarmyspox.
Unfortunately his twitter account is only reposting his official Facebook Page’s official statement online , he does not rant on twitter like his Israeli counterpart Avichay Adraee.
I think many girls from his fan club will like see the personal photos of Ali like his birthday’s photos just like Avichay’s “ The poor Israeli guy shared his 30th birthday photos and all Egyptian Facebookers wished him a true happy fucking birthday literality”
I am not interested in fights between Avichay  and Military secrets agent man as the later always likes to brag that his news are more correct and faster than Avichay’s. I am waiting and interested in a military cat fight between Ali and Avichay , I mean official spokespersons fight on twitter !!      
Ok speaking seriously , this is not enough to communicate with the people. First of all we need a true website for the army not Facebook Pages for God sake , the Lebanese army got a better official website than our Egyptian armed forces’ official website that has not been updated for years now !!
Colonel Ahmed Ali should speak to the public through that twitter account for real and if you want my opinion as veteran social media user, the Egyptian armed forces should have an English twitter account too.                 

#EgyFarmers : They Only want Water

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Ahram Online’s Nada El Kouny wrote extremely alarming report about the trouble small scale farmers in Fayoum governorate are currently facing. Here is a video report with translation showing the problem of these farmers.

These farmers do not want anything except water , they do not want money or another demands except water for their own land. This is so simple. I think President Morsi as a man who originated from a family of farmers knows exactly what these people have been through in the past ten years.

How many farmers in Egypt want only water for their land ?? I fear too many. Please make some noise for their farmers as much you can. Already I can not believe this happens in Fayoum .

Now I am begging bloggers and citizen journalists around Egypt to go and to do similar reports about the problems they are facing in their governorates.

Huge Fire destroys #Libya Market in #Matrouh

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Huge fire has destroyed Marsa Matrouh’s most famous and biggest public market “Libya Market” in Marsa Matrouh earlier this morning. The fire started at 7 AM and destroyed nearly 90% of the market that is already made of tin. 7 citizens reportedly suffered from suffocation , hopefully there are no deaths. According to early estimations primarily losses reached to LE 3 million. Economic losses are expected to be more than as news reports are speaking about the destruction of not less than 400 small shops.

Here is a video showing the fire from distance.

Here is a video showing the fire from another angle.

Here is a video after the fire was put off , it shows the amount of destruction in the popular market.

Here is a photo gallery for photos I found in Matrouh News Facebook page.

Luckily this fire did not happen in the summer season. The army sent 6 fire engines and the commanders of the Western Zone went to the fire location along with the new governor of Matrouh that arrived at 10 AM. President Morsi is following the matter according to his FB account, I am not surprised as the man visited Matrouh from short time ago. Here is the video showing the new governor of Matrouh Ahmed El Haitemy “a former General” with the commander of the Western zone.

Amazingly before any investigation , the commander of the Western zone accused the old electricity short circuit of causing the fire !!

When I saw the photos of the market , I knew that this disaster should have happened from long time ago. Most of the shops made of tin and there is no fire protection system when many of these small shops used to sell inflammable substances starting from detergents to perfumes and paints.  You can see in this short clip filmed after the fire how the shops are tiny and close to each other.

According to Matrouh’s head of security directorate there is no evidence of criminal intent behind this fire.

Many Egyptians include me associate “Libya Market” with the foreign goods smuggled from Libya in early 1990s that we could not find back in Cairo in cheap prices. I remember when we used to spend summer there that my mom and aunts along with my late grandma “May Allah bless her soul” to buy stuff from there.

Watch the semi-Final elections of Egypt’s Pope Live on TV

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The top 5 candidates
After one hour  from now the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria will hold the semi-final internal elections to choose the top and final three candidates for the Papacy from 5 candidates. The three finals will compete on the Papacy next Sunday in huge ceremony.
Voting in this stage will start from 9 AM to 5 PM and it may extend for another hour. The votes will be counted in the attendance of a representative from the ministry of interior and the results will be announced between 9 PM and 10 PM. It is worth to mention the Ethiopian Church will be participating in the elections also through a delegation made of 5 priests for the first time after the separation of Ethiopian Church from Egyptian Orthodox Church.
The voters from Holy Synod will have choose 3 top candidates out of 5.
For the first time in its history , the Semi-final elections will be aired live in three Egyptian TV channels , two Christians including CTV and secular TV channel  “CBC”. 
The Orthodox Conclave will be held next Sunday and President Morsi will attend it ISA. “I think he is the first Egyptian president to attend it such important event if I am not mistake”
The 5 candidates are currently spending their night in 3 monasteries. Some are claiming that the top three will be : Father Raphael Ava Mina,Bishop Tawadros and Bishop Raphael. We will see if they are going to make it.

Updated : 

@7:14 PM The results have been announced the top three are :  Father Raphael Ava Mina,Bishop Tawadros and Bishop Raphael.
As expected. 

I missed this action !! EAF morning training

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I woke up to find all my friends on twitter and Facebook speaking about these two F16 jets that rocked the skies of Cairo and other governorate early in the morning freaking them out of their beds.
To be honest I did not hear anything and I was sleeping like a baby at 5 AM today but luckily some citizen in Shubra filmed these two annoying F16. "Old video , sorry"
After couple of hours we found Colonel Ahmed Ali , the official spokesperson posting this statement his official Facebook Page.

OK you test your toys and train your boys as you want but you have to be careful that such actions cause public panic.

About #IAF raids on #Sudan

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The talk and gossip have not stopped yet in Cairo since the Israeli raid on Sudan’s Yarmouk military factory last and that training of EAF today’s morning was like a new fuel for that rumor mill that does not want to stop.
Now many people believe that the IAF used our skies to hit Sudan and they actually think and believe that those jets that broke sound barrier earlier today were actually Israeli jets.
I do not know about today’s jets , up till now I am buying the official statement of Egyptian armed forces because there is no reason Israel would provoke our country now in this way not to mention this is an act of war but I know Sunday Times published an info graph about the Israeli attack on Sudan.

Eight IAF F15s sent to Sudan where they evaded the Egyptian radars and their electronic warfare equipment jammed Sudan’s air defences. Of course if you watch what the Sudanese minister of defense Abdel Rahim Hussein and how he justified in last May proudly why the Sudanese air defenses did not stop another IAF attack , you will know how troubled the Sudanese armed forces are !!

What we can do !? The air defenses could not spot the jets because the jets turned off their lights !!

Now 3 Iranian military vessels have reached to Port Sudan. According to information that began to surface in international media from newspapers and websites. The Voice of Russia claims that Mossad knew about the agreement between Sudan and Iran after stealing the suitcase of Palestinian business and Hamas leading figure Mahmoud Al Mabhouh from two years ago. Of course one must ask if this is the case , why Israel had to wait two years and how come Sudan got the technology to manufacture missiles when its minister of defense is retarded and it has not air defenses.

Of course we need an official explanation regarding the matter in Cairo because this is a national security priority.

The New Pope will be from these 3 men

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This can be old news for you but yes the new Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria will be from these three men : Father Raphael Ava Mina,Bishop Tawadros and Bishop Raphael.
Here is a quick bio for the three men. I hope that the bios are correct.

Father Raphael Ava Mina :

Father Raphael Ava Mania
The oldest candidate. Born in 1942 in Rod El Farag for a family that originally came from Asuit , Bishop Ava Mina graduated from the faculty of law , Ain Shams University.
 Raphael Ava Mina is considered the faithful student of Pope Cyril VI. He became a monk on 7th August 1969. On 8th August 1969 Pope Cyril VI ordained him as a priest in St. Mina Monastery.
He wrote about 25 books in religion as well 17 booklets about the unknown saints. 
He is known to be a very peaceful man who lives according to the doctrines of Pope Cyril. There is difference between Pope Cyril VI and Pope Shenouda III starting from I know and I understand.


Bishop Tawadros

Bishop Tawadros
Bishop Tawadros currently is the general bishop of El Bahaira. He was born in 1952 with the name "Wagih Sobhy Soliman" in Mansoura.
The member of the Holy Synod was graduated from the faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria in 1975. Before joining the monastic order , he used to work as a manager of pharmaceutical company in Damnhur. He joined the monastic order in 1986. He officially became a monk in 1988 then a priest in 1989
He was ordained as a Bishop in June 1997. 

 Bishop Raphael 

Bishop Raphael
Bishop Raphael is the most famous name among the candidates as he is the auxiliary Bishop of Central Cairo and Heliopolis . Born as "Michel El Arian Hakim" on May 6th , 1958 in Cairo , the former aide of Pope Shenouda III graduated from the faculty of Medicine as a surgeon in 1982. He joined monastic order and became a monk in 1987.
He was ordained as a bishop in June 1997. Being an aide to late Shenouda III means I think that he will continue on his path somehow.

Preparing for the Conclave 

Now from Wednesday to Friday the Church will fast for three days a first degree fasting which means to eat nothing except vegan food if I understood correctly. Meanwhile the Church will choose from 70 boys a young boy who will be remembered for his upcoming choice from 3 folded papers with the names of the three candidates while blindfolded. This blindfolded boy represents God´s choice. You can read more about the Coptic Orthodox Conclave here. It will be held next Sunday and it will be also aired live. President Morsi is said to attend to the huge event.

It is up to God indeed now and only God knows who will be the upcoming 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church from these three. May he be the best for the country not only for the Christians.

"Strong Egypt" party officially registers itself

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"Strong Egypt" Party has officially admitted its papers to the Parties' committee HQ at the Supreme court in Cairo in a big celebratory event made by its young members. Hundreds from supporters and members came from different parts of Cairo and Giza as well from different governorates like Suez and Tanta since early morning. Chanting the slogans and the songs of "Strong Egypt" {that was made during the Presidential campaign of Abu El Fotouh} , the young supporters and members were energetic.

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They came from Dakhalia governorate
 I notice that the event was being taken care of financially wise with all these flags , t-Shirts and DJ not to mention the banners.
I saw Mokhtar Noah and Rabab El Mahdy at the court before the arrival of Abu El Fotouh. The man of course was received like a hero by his supporters.

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A hero reception
 Abu El Fotouh was going to hold a press conference but due to the huge crowd of fans outside the Supreme court that disturbed the midday traffic in a very busy street , he only addressed the supporters and reporters for two minutes only.

 The former popular presidential candidate said that if it were not for the revolution's martyrs , the party would not make it and that the revolution continues till its goals "bread, dignity ,freedom and social justice" are fulfilled. He also added that his party is open for all people from Islamists to Christians.
Here is the photo gallery from the event.


Needless to say being a former leading member of the Muslim brotherhood is still a charge stalking Abu El Fotouh among some secular, nationalists and leftists. They consider him as a MB in disguise that should be avoided. Well I do not know but the fact that former MB leading member and activist Mokhtar Noah is with him in the party , it assures to me that the brotherhood is a past experience for Abu El Fotouh as long as its leadership includes Khariat El Shater.
El Shater hates Abu El Fotouh and Noah so much in a way you can not imagine and it is well known actually to anyone who knows the brotherhood. Abu El Fotouh and Noah are the reformists and El Shater is from the conservative Qatubists starting with.
Anyhow people can fool themselves as they want but I know Abu El Fotouh and his party presented a report slamming the draft constitution proposed by the constituent assembly like no other party in excellent political way.
I think it is another delayed post , please forgive me these days for all belated posts.
P.S Most political figures and parties including Freedom and Justice and Constitution Party as well Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei have welcomed the official registration of "Strong Egypt" Party. 
Personally I wish all the success of both Constitution Party and Strong Egypt Party not because of ElBaradei and Abu El Fotouh but because the huge number of youth supporting these parties as political salvation for our problems.

And No IAF jets stormed our skies officially

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From two days ago Colonel Ahmed Ali, the Egyptian armed forces official spokesperson had to react quickly along with the morale department after that early EAF morning training that scared the shit out of many Egyptians in Cairo as it seems. He had to issue another FB statement denying rumors spread online that the air jets which rocked Cairo and other governorates' skies last Monday were Israeli jets !!
Ali had issued earlier a statement last Monday's afternoon about the jets announcing that they were part of a training following air defence forces.  It seems that many people did not believe it and  rumors swapped the Social media in Egypt claiming that Israel sent couple of jets breaking the sound barriers in our country as it had done in Lebanon and Gaza before !!
This rumor was enforced by a statement issued by "Officers for Revolution" FB page , the famous Pro-Revolutionary anonymous FB page claiming to be operated by a group of revolutionary officers from the Egyptian army. The page claimed that last Monday 8 IAF F15 Jets broke the sound barriers in our skies before returning back to Israel.
The army's statement says on the other hand that it is not true that 5 Israeli F35 had stormed our skies and broke the sound barriers. He also added Israel has not received yet the F35 jets which have not joined the US air forces also as it is still under development !!


Of course the "Officers for revolution" group was speaking about F15 Jets and not F35 Jets
With my all due respect to "Officers for Revolution" group and their concern , I got confirmation from friends who got relatives in different zones in Egypt that those Jets were Egyptians and actually they came from South to North , from Bani Sawif. I do not care if you believe me or not but I believe these sources more than Anonymous Facebook pages regardless of its affiliation and I think I have been careful in this in my blog and twitter .
It was actually ridiculous to find Shafik´s supporters sharing the statement of that FB  page when they used to attack it and accused of treason and working for the MB against the army !!!
Logically Israel will not do such action now , Egypt is not Lebanon or Gaza and this action already breaks the Camp David accords or even appears as if it is the one that started the fight with Egypt. Historically Israel did not appear to start wars with Egypt even though in 1956 there were plans and agreement with UK and France and you check back history. In two of our wars Nasser gave a good opportunity for Israel to launch an attack in Egypt in the most stupid way.
BY the way some unknown European Website claiming that the Russians got tips that Egypt is preparing a full scale war .. with Ethiopia !!


Shall I write or wait for another draft constitution ??

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I was planning to write more posts about the draft constitution especially that I am completely convinced with what Strong Egypt Party published from objections against the draft constitution issued recently by the constituent assembly.

But today I was surprised to know that there will be a new draft constitution issued by next week, thus I thought of waiting the new draft !! Of course I am not that hopeful because according to news reports the Salafists in the constituent assembly backed up by other conservative Islamists including Al Gama'a Al Islamiyaa are refusing to change anything in the draft. On the contrary they want to change it in to more conservative constitution based on their own interpretation of Sharia.

Now the presidency is holding a series of meetings to reach for an agreement about the constitution , again I doubt it will reach to anything.

Anyhow I will wait till next week , if there is new draft I will revise it carefully again in order to write my thoughts about it. if there is nothing I will write my thoughts about the current draft we have got.

Putting Cairo the Sleepless City to sleep !!

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I do not know really if there will be a curfew imposed on shops , Cafes and restaurants at 10 PM or not.I do not know if it is going to be postponed indefinitely as it was announced last Wednesday or postponed for just one week as loudmouth municipal development minister Ahmed Zaki Abdeen is claiming.
There is confusion , truly confusion when it comes to truth and news in Egypt , still without doubt the government can not market the curfew decision publicly especially with the refusal of commercial chambers.
Now whether the shops and curfew going to be postponed indefinitely or for just one week , here are my two cents :
Despite I am from the victims of those sleepless cafes in my street with its noise 24/7 , I am totally against the decision to impose a curfew or force the shops and restaurants.
Economically this decision will harm millions and force them in to unemployment by cancelling the night shifts in time we are fighting unemployment. I am not even speaking about shops and restaurants in fancy areas in Cairo but rather in poor and middle class areas.
From social point of view , our life style in big cities especially in Cairo is different than how it was from 10 years ago. For instance many people including myself return from work at 6PM or 7PM. If I have got an errand or I have to go for shopping for any urgent circumstance that can not wait to the weekend , I have to go shopping at 8 PM or even 9PM and with the great traffic of Cairo , I may not return back home except at 11 PM or 12 AM. We do not finish work and leave at 3 PM as we used to do in the old good days where we could have a siesta at 5PM and watch films at Cinemas from 6 PM to 9 PM for God sake.
This reason can be connected to the economical reasons , as we are speaking about economic losses for these shops which can not find customers in that early times.
Another social point that should be raised is that these open restaurants and shops foe very late time provide huge security in time we are suffering from the lack of security. There are complete streets that got no light posts in fancy areas like Mohendessin and Zamalek , open shops till late night provide company and security. Just think about poor areas.
Only the cafes and restaurants with tourism license will be exempted. The big irony is that conservatives are cheering for that decision without realizing that shops , night clubs cafes and restaurants selling alcohol got tourism license and thus they can be opened all night till morning . I bet some cafes and restaurants will think of selling alcohols in order to be granted tourism license !!
It is unfair when cafes and restaurants with tourism license open all night where as popular cafes in poor areas that provide security indirectly to the people in these locations close because they can not afford or even want to be touristically  licensed !!!
BY Maher Hatem : Cinderella had to leave
her prince at 10 PM to close her shop 
Already there is no need for such curfew in the upcoming winter season and the return to schools and faculties.
The closure of shops and restaurants at 10 PM will not save energy either , again if you want to provide and save energy you got other alternatives starting with raising the electricity bills to shops and restaurants and ending at the use of solar energy in Egypt.
Small towns and cities already do not need laws or orders to close the shops and restaurants , it is more of social habit you can feel it.
Anyhow even if the curfew imposed and the Hisham Kandeel’s government is trying to put Cairo asleep , I doubt that the defiant city will sleep early. Mubarak and Sadat also issued similar decrees and they failed to make this country sleep early in time our population was much less than our population is now !!
Interesting news related to the subject we are discussing :

And the fall will be much faster than I have thought !!

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This video shows Mohamed Badie , the current MB guide surrounded by a human shield of Muslim brotherhood members in none other than the Kabaa , Islam’s holiest site during the last pilgrimage season !! I am so provoked by this scene !!
How dare did the MB think to do such provoking action !? Did not they attack similar Mubarak’s action in pilgrimage ?? I see imitation. Already I do not understand how Badei accepted this action !! Silly me the man accepts to see the MB members kiss his hands !!
Who will think to harm an old man or even the MB guide in the holiest place for Muslim ??? This is not from Islam !!
The MB is falling quite fast when it comes to power , seriously too fast !!

Breaking : Syrian Tanks in Golan , why Now !?

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AP has just announced from few minutes ago that 3 Syrian tanks have entered the demilitarized zone in Golan.
What does Bashar El Assad want to do ?? Why suddenly did he decide to escalate the matter ?? What are these tanks doing !?
Many questions in my mind now. Wait for more updates. 
Well the IDF spokesperson for Arab Media has not tweeted yet what happened but it seems that officially Israel has already reacted and presented a very quick complaint to the UN regarding the Syrian regime's violation to UN and Security council resolution.
Now according to activists the 3 Syrian tanks entered the villages "Al Buraykah and Bir Jam" that are only few kilometers from Syrian Israeli borders.
 A map showing the two villages from Ziad Benjamin
According to activists and reports these 3 Syrian tanks were participating in some operations against rebel forces. Of course I am quite surprised that there are operations this far involving rebels and governmental forces !!
Facebook Page "BRQ" claims that these 3 Syrian tanks entered the demilitarized zone to escape from the rebel forces . 

Will the Egyptian government do like the British government and issue a warning about #Sinai !? "Updated"

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UK has issued a travel warning for its citizens in Egypt. The foreign office has raised its terror threat to avoid all the essential travel to North and South Sinai except Sharm El Sheikh according to its official website.
The foreign office is against all travel to North Sinai governorate complete because of the terrorist activities there. I do understand all these precautions and respect the UK for how much they do care about citizens abroad.
I want to know the reaction of the Egyptian government regarding this warning !! Will the Egyptian government issue a similar warning its for its citizens when it comes to Sinai !!??
How is Operation Eagle !? I began to suspect that it is a mystical creature like the renaissance bird or the the phoenix. 
I am tired for the daily news coming from Sinai that proves by all measures  that the bad guys got an upper hand in the North. I am tired from the constant operations against security forces and the constant abduction targeting the locals.
I want President Morsi to address the nation sincerely if he really fears God about the truth of what is happening in Sinai.

Update #1 : 

Things are developing in Sinai in a very pleasant way. Today 3 policemen have been killed while other 3 have been injured in an attack in checkpoint in Al Arish, in North Sinai. It turns out that from two days ago a policeman killed a Bedouin and from what I understood from Sinai local tweep and activist Massaad Abu Fajr that policeman allegedly danced over the body of that young man which caused their anger.
Massaad Abu Fajr has been tweeting for awhile and he is saying that there are currently two big protests in the cities of Al Arish and Rafah. The first protest by the locals and tribes that are being described as revolutionaries in Al Arish.
Now this protest in Al Arish is getting bigger as there are tribe chieftains participating in this protest along with the parties in the city like Constitution Party and Al Karma Party besieging the empty governorate building. The protesters have already stormed the building in what I believe the first #Occupy movement's escalation.

The protesters are demanding the following demands according to Massaad Abu Fajr : 


  • Dismissing the governor of Sinai "a former army general" and his deputy "A Muslim brotherhood member" 
  • Choosing an administrative committee from allegedly 5 "revolutionaries" and an advisory council made of 20 revolutionaries to organize the work in the governorate instead of the governor !!

There is another protest in Rafah where policemen are protesting against the government. I am not surprised , I think they are protesting on how they are being sent for their doom in Sinai.
The governor and his deputy are nowhere to be found so does civilian Police. The scene there according to tweeps is similar to 28 January 2011 where police is no where to found. Army forces are reportedly securing some police HQs in Al Arish. 

Update#2 

Ok according to  Ahmed El Ghoul whom I trusted no one has stormed or occupied the governorate building. The army forces have already arrived from more than 25 minutes and handed over the empty building to secure it. More policemen have joined the protesters at the Governorate HQ demanding the dismissal of Sinai's security heads. 
The 25 commission to rule Sinai was more of a suggestion despite there are already lists with names . The main demand is to elect a new governor. 
There are no Jihadists or Islamists involved in the protests. Actually the protesters are leftists and local tribes. 

#Live Update : Coptic Conclave

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The Coptic Orthodox Church's conclave to choose the 118th Pope of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church Alexandria has started from an hour ago in the St.Marks Church in Cairo.
President Morsi is no where to be seen. To be honest I expected not to see him there.
There are hymns read by the chorus before the procedures to choose a boy from 12 Alter Boys. That boy will pick while blindfolded a folded paper with the name of the winner. The three candidates : Raphael Ava Mina , Tawadros and Raphael with my all due respect to their titles. The three current are staying at there monasteries waiting to know the results.
@09:21 AM Bishop Pachmious ,the acting Pope is addressing the audience with a small sermon about the church. Many TV channels aside from the Christian Channels are transferring the event like Egyptian TV Ch.1 , Al Maserya, ONTV, CBC and Al Jazeera Mubshar. 
@09:25 AM Bishop Pachmious explains in his sermon the mission , duties and responsibilities of the new Pope from the Bible 
@9:30 AM Here is a live coverage from the Church from ONTV Live , acting Pope Pachmious is still speaking 

@09:34 AM : In an interview published today in Al Masry Al Youm acting Pope Pachmious revealed that he got a promise from the three candidates to change the controversial 1957 elections law to allow more Copt Christians to vote and choose their Pope. 
Samir Marcus , the President's adviser is attending the huge event. Again I am not surprised. The representatives of other Churches in Egypt are there. 
The names of the Candidates are current put in small plastic balls in some container. 
@09:44 AM : There are prayers now to protect Egypt , officials and the people as well prayers for crops and productions ..etc. 
Morsi did not attend the elections , action Pope Pachmious says that he hopes that President Morsi will attend the inauguration of the new Pope. 
@09:54 AM : There are prayers now , specifically the Reconciliation Prayer 
@11:07 AM : There have been prayers, hymns and rituals so far preceding how the kid will be chosen and how he will choose one of these small plastic balls. 
The journalists and reporters are not allowed inside the mass currently taking place. I do not know when it will be finished to be honest. 
There are rumors claiming that Bishop Raphael will be chosen as the upcoming Pope !! 
@11: 19 AM : The mass is still on and acting Pope Pachmious will continue in his position till the inauguration of the Pope on next November 18th 
@11: 26 AM : Here is the big moment , choosing the boy from the 12 alter boys . extremely important as this boy will have the honor of choosing the Pope . The Boys look cute and small wearing the traditional church alter boys 
@:11:28 AM : Bishoy Gergas Massad is chosen , he looks terrified 
@11:31 Am : Bishoy is blindfolded 
@11:34 Am : Acting Pope Pachmious : Let's pray for one minute 
@11:35 Am : Bishoy has chosen Pope Tawadros 
Pope Tawadros 
@11:40 Am: Pope Tawadros II is the 118th Pope of Egyptian Orthodox Coptic Church. Here is a quick bio about Pope Tawadros II : Bishop Tawadros currently is the general bishop of El Bahaira. He was born in 1952 with the name "Wagih Sobhy Soliman" in Mansoura.
The member of the Holy Synod was graduated from the faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria in 1975. Before joining the monastic order , he used to work as a manager of pharmaceutical company in Damnhur. He joined the monastic order in 1986. He officially became a monk in 1988 then a priest in 1989
He was ordained as a Bishop in June 1997.
By the way 4/11/2012 , is Pope Tawadros II's birthday !!!
@12:15 PM : Pope Tawadros II is addressing the public at St. Bishoy Monastery. Egyptian Christians are overwhelmed for real. 

I can not hear what he says on ONTV. 
Bishop Tawadros is trending worldwide currently on twitter
By the way Tawadros means the Gift of God and many are optimistic that his name was announced at the time of Zhur Azan. Pop Tawadros was by the way the student of Bishop Pachimous 

#Kuwait : And the Kuwaitis try to protest again and the government is cracking it down again

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Kuwaitis demanding democratic political reforms in their country are trying once again to protest tonight. They are organized a new rally with the same name like the huge first one that surprised us all : Nation’s dignity.
Again the Kuwaitis are protesting against the Elections law that gives the ruler of the country , the prince the right to interfere in the process. I have just read some unconfirmed news that Prince allegedly said that if the constitution court ruled out the invalidity of that law , he will accept and respect the verdict. It is worth to mention that after the first rally from couple of weeks ago , the Kuwaiti government has banned rallies
There are rumors circulating that Kuwaiti government have paid millions allegedly to both Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya in order to ignore tonight’s protests as well the movement currently taking place in Kuwait.
There is even more disturbing rumors that Kuwait paid to Jordan millions in order that Jordan would send to Kuwait anti-riots forces !! Of course there is no smoke without fire and both countries have already signed 8 cooperation pacts today according to KUNA. The Jordanian minister of foreign affairs Nasser Gowda has denied from his side officially these claims. Gowda was already visiting Kuwait this morning on the head of that Jordanian delegation visiting Kuwait.
Already today the Kuwaiti ministry of interior's special forces got orders to cancel all members' holidays till further notice.
A photo for the order from @Warahblog
Anyhow interesting enough Kuwait will hold a military exercise with the rest of the Peninsula shield force.
Amazingly I am witnessing online a new trend from Kuwaiti social media who are against this political movement declaring their support to the Prince as presented in the famous slogan “Allah , Nation , the Prince” . You can find this team in that hashtag #Kuwait praying all day long.
The MB enemy No.1 in the Gulf Dubai Police chief Dhahi Khalfan tweeted the following amazingly tweet



The Arab Gulf is standing today behind Kuwait whether a government or people , behind El Sabah and his government as well the loyal Kuwaitis for the sake of its stability.
Ironically these protests are regarded as Iranian Muslim brotherhood attempt to destabilize the Gulf and please do not ask me how. The MB members and supporters in Egypt do not hide their full support on the contrary they are thrilled.
@ 7:04 PM CLT Kuwaiti protesters began to gather from different areas in the capital and to meet at certain public squares and spaces to start the rally. After nearly half an hour the Kuwaiti special forces and police began to attack the protesters using smoke and tear gas grenades. The protesters screamed in return “Peaceful , peaceful , peaceful” . The helicopters also hovered all over the gathering places. There are have been injuries among the protesters as well ironically the police who were injured by the special forces.
Here is a video clip from Al Bayan Newspaper.

@ 8:30 PM Kuwait Local time Karamat Watan twitter account , the official twitter account of the rally’s organizers announced that it ended the rally for the safety of the protesters who are insisting on its peacefulness. From what I understood the special forces were besieging the protesters refusing to let them leave. Of course this was followed by random arrests.
The rally was met by sound and smoke bombs , this is repression thus we announce the end of the rally
The detainees were transferred to some sports' field.
Of course now the protest is dispersed one hour earlier than its initial time , Dhahi Khalfan can sleep peacefully in Dubai 
BY the way if you want to understand Kuwaiti politics in English , I hope you follow this young lady from Kuwait : Mona Kareem
Here is another video showing the gas bombs .

By there were women who participated also in this rally that included many political forces and powers in Kuwait.
Those protesters chanted that sovereignty is for the people and the people want to down the Prince's decree. They sang the national anthem and yet they are being attacked now online in the worst way ever. Some protesters even held Kuwaiti flags with Prince El Sabah's picture. In fact a group of youth admitted to the Prince's Diwan a request to meet him in order to present their demands !!
The demand by @ralfadalah
You can see these in the photos below

You can see how the hospitals prepared this time , also how the doctors in the field
Here are also more video clips I found Kuwaitis chanting their national anthem

BY the tonight Kuwaiti TV kept showing TV shows speaking about protesting and how Egypt is not like other countries in the Arab world, I have heard this before !!
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