Shafik Returns to Cairo from Abu Dhabi on Board Private Jet

Egypt's former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik speaks during an interview at his residence in Abu Dhabi February 6, 2013. (Reuters)
Egypt's former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik speaks during an interview at his residence in Abu Dhabi February 6, 2013. (Reuters)
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Shafik Returns to Cairo from Abu Dhabi on Board Private Jet

Egypt's former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik speaks during an interview at his residence in Abu Dhabi February 6, 2013. (Reuters)
Egypt's former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik speaks during an interview at his residence in Abu Dhabi February 6, 2013. (Reuters)

Three days after announcing his intention to run in the next presidential elections in Egypt, former Prime Minister Ahmed Sahfik returned to Cairo from Abu Dhabi on Saturday on board a private jet.

His lawyer Dina Adly Hussein told Asharq Al-Awsat that her client departed the United Arab Emirates to Egypt early in the morning on Saturday, while his family, including his daughter remained in Abu Dhabi.

An official source later confirmed her statement.

Shafik came in second to deposed President Mohammed Morsi in the 2012 presidential elections with over 12 million votes (49 percent of the tally). He departed to the UAE soon after his defeat fearing that he would be persecuted on corruption charges.

Charges were laid down against him, but he was acquitted of some, while the others were dropped.

Shafik was once considered close to former President Hosni Mubarak.

A prominent military commander, he was appointed commander of the air force in 1996 and later minister of aviation in 2002. In 2011, Mubarak tasked him with forming a new government.

An informed Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Shafik received a deportation request from the UAE and that he was obligated to leave within two days.

Prior to his deportation, he was expected to embark on a tour of several European countries, including France, ahead of his announcement of his candidacy for the presidential elections.



Israel Declares 'New Phase' of War, Netanyahu Promises to Return Citizens of the North

FILED - 02 September 2024, Israel, Jerusalem: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference. Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO/dpa
FILED - 02 September 2024, Israel, Jerusalem: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference. Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO/dpa
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Israel Declares 'New Phase' of War, Netanyahu Promises to Return Citizens of the North

FILED - 02 September 2024, Israel, Jerusalem: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference. Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO/dpa
FILED - 02 September 2024, Israel, Jerusalem: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference. Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO/dpa

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday that Israel was “at the start of a new phase in the war” amid rising tension with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

“We are at the start of a new phase in the war — it requires courage, determination and perseverance,” Gallant told Israeli troops.

He made no mention of the explosions of electronic devices in Lebanon but praised the work of Israel’s army and security agencies, saying “the results are very impressive.”

Israeli leaders have issued a series of warnings in recent weeks that they might increase operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying they must put a stop to the cross-border exchanges to allow people to return to homes near the border.

Israel began moving more troops to its border with Lebanon on Wednesday as a precautionary measure, according to an official with knowledge of the movements who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

In his comments, Gallant said that after months of fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip, “the center of gravity is shifting to the north by diverting resources and forces.”

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu huddled with top security officials at Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, the country's army chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said plans have been drawn up for additional action against Hezbollah.

Israel will ensure that tens of thousands of residents evacuated from northern border areas will be able to go back home, Netanyahu said on Wednesday.

"I have said it before, we will return the citizens of the north to their homes in security and that's exactly what we are going to do," he said in a brief video statement, giving no further details.

Israeli sources with knowledge of the matter said the army had moved its 98th Division, which includes commando and paratrooper formations, from Gaza to the north.