Egypt Sentences Deposed President Morsi to Death
Former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, who was elected to the presidency in what purported to be the nation’s first democratic election only to be deposed a year later, has been sentenced to death for his role in orchestrating a mass prison break during the unrest that led to the toppling of his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak. The verdict will now be referred to the nation’s top cleric who is expected to confirm the decree. Morsi, who is a senior official of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, which is now banned in Egypt, is already serving prison time for other alleged offenses committed during protests in 2012. At least 15 other defendants were also sentenced to death. International rights groups and governments including the US have expressed concern over the mass trials and sentencings overseen by the new Egyptian government headed by Abdel Fatteh Al-Sisi. Hours after the sentences were handed down three Egyptian judges were shot to death by gunmen believed to be aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood in the northern Sinai town of Al-Arish, where ISIS operatives are active along with other jihadis.
Tension Rises Amid Reports Turkey Downed Syrian Aircraft – Drone or Helicopter
Tension rose along the Turkish-Syrian border on Saturday after it was reported that Turkey had downed a Syrian aircraft that had penetrated its airspace. Differing reports identified the craft alternatively as a surveillance drone and a helicopter. A Turkish news agency reported that the aircraft flew seven miles inside of Turkey for a full five minutes before being shot down. Turkey favors the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad; while Assad charges that Ankara is actively aiding the anti-regime forces. More than 1.7 million Syrians have taken refuge in Turkey since the civil war began in 2011. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the deaths of at least 48 civilians in Saturday air raids by the Assad regime in Syria’s northwest Idlib province.
Israel Celebrates “Jerusalem Day” following Palestinian “Catastrophe Day”
Underscoring the unbending point-counterpoint of life in the Middle East, Israel on Monday celebrates “Jerusalem Day” marking 48-years since the capital was reunified following its conquest in the 1967 war, coming one day after the Palestinian commemoration known as “Naqba” – or “catastrophe” – referring to the 1948 war in which Israel gained its independence but many of its Arab citizens fled their homes. Even 48-years later Israeli observances remain laced with angst and tension, a case-in-point being the controversy over the route the official parade will take through parts of Jerusalem’s Old City with heavy Arab demographics. New figures released jointly by the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies show a total population of 829,900 of which 63% are Jewish “and other non-Arabs,” while 37% are Arab. At least five people were injured in the northern West Bank on Saturday when a Naqba demonstration turned violent as demonstrators battled Israeli soldiers.
Pope Angers Israelis again: Recognition of Palestine; then Abbas is “Angel of Peace”
Fresh off a new diplomatic tiff resulting from the Vatican’s recognition of the ‘state of Palestine,’ Pope Francis has again angered Israeli leaders by referring to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as an “angel of peace.” The comment came as the two men exchanged gifts during Abbas’ official audience on Saturday. Rounding out a good week in Vatican-Palestinian relations, two 19th century nuns were canonized in a ceremony in St. Peters Square before a crowd estimated at about 2,000, with many Palestinian flags seen among the participants. The final draft of a treaty between the Holy See and the PA that deals with the Church’s activities in the Palestinian territories is expected to be ready for Abbas to sign before his departure. Reacting to the new pact, Israel issued a statement that read, in part, “Such a development does not further the peace process and distances the Palestinian leadership from returning to direct bilateral negotiations. Israel will study the agreement and consider its next step.”