EGYPT: Court upholds ban on gas exportation to Israel
As public outrage soared over the Israeli attack on Gaza last week, Egypt’s administrative court upheld an earlier verdict banning the exportation of gas to Israel.
In response, the government filed an appeal that the court is expected to examine on Feb. 2. However, the court reportedly ordered that the ban be implemented immediately. Last year, the gas deal with Israel elicited much controversy among intellectuals and activists who decided to take the government to court.
The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs twice, but it is still to be seen whether the verdicts will be enforced. “Our government has a history of not executing court verdicts, but in this particular case it would be wise to change this attitude,” said lawyer Ibrahim Yousry, a former ambassador and one of the plaintiffs, as quoted in the Daily News Egypt.
“It is not in Egypt's political interest to continue exporting gas to Israel. There is a huge popular sentiment against it, and in light of what is currently happening in Gaza, this cannot go on," he added.
This new verdict resonated strongly with many Egyptians, who are following the events in Gaza with great interest and sympathy for Palestinian civilians killed in the fighting. Arab satellite channels air coverage, with pictures of slain Palestinians, on a daily basis. Although Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in the late 1970s, many Egyptians still object to full normalization of relations with the Jewish state.
“It is a good time to stop sending gas to Israel in reprisal for the savage attack on Gaza and in order to vent our outrage. Please stop exporting it so that God can bestow mercy upon you,” commented reader Abdullah Mohamed on the website of Al-Masry Al-Youm independent daily.
— Noha El-Hennawy in Cairo
Photo: Gas pipelines. Credit: European Pressphoto Agency
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Well we have two heathen egyptians awake, maybe your observation of why they put them in camps is something you middle east people wish were true! but my observation of why they put them there is, they are terrorist !! maybe you are to. my raving comments are my perogative. i;m American and free. not like you PEOPLE are. why are you in London speaking freely?? oh i know, because you cant do it in your own country. talk about knowing the facts!! i would not waste my amo on you!!! GO HOME!!!!! stay there!!!! you are to afraid of your own government to do that. Huh??? Israel will never fall!! so deal with it egyptian................
Posted by: E.T | January 14, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Does E.T. stands for extra terrestrial? That would sure explain that strange sharing. E.T. : Were you on Earth when your pals put the Palestinians in refuge camps? Did it ever occur to you why the Palestinians are firing from "Refuge Camps". This is your homework for today. If you fail to understand that, then you are not worth wasting any breath on.
Posted by: Very Much Egyptian | January 13, 2009 at 05:37 AM
Such a hypocritical situation when the Israelis claim self defense, but the fatalities are 150 to 1. This is the equivalent of claiming the right to shoot dead a fellow commuter who gave you a dirty look or at best stepped on your foot.
On the gas topic, Would be a good measure from the Egyptian government to accept court orders (whatever that may be), even more when it is in the same direction as the public (voters) want.
Now to the raving in the earlier comment by "E.T.", would be really good if he contributes his valuable thoughts on how Egypt can become a very rich nation. I am sure he can become very rich too if he has some good ideas for that.
It is not very productive to use slander and statements like "you would be next". Would be much more helpful to focus on the Franco-Egyptian initiative that seems to be the only alternative at the moment.
Posted by: An Egyptian in London | January 11, 2009 at 08:18 AM
well , if you Egypt. Stop funneling arms to Hamas, you may become a very rich nation. But no ,you are so ignorent to your own people that you have to join in with the low life bearded cowards to save your own dam ass!! Bunch of bull you are Egypt. Dont follow the bull that is coming from your masked cowards! you will be next!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: E.T | January 11, 2009 at 02:30 AM