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Egypt: New Period of Security Measures in Sinai

Members of the Egyptian army during a previous security campaign in North Sinai (the official page of the military spokesman)
Members of the Egyptian army during a previous security campaign in North Sinai (the official page of the military spokesman)
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Egypt: New Period of Security Measures in Sinai

Members of the Egyptian army during a previous security campaign in North Sinai (the official page of the military spokesman)
Members of the Egyptian army during a previous security campaign in North Sinai (the official page of the military spokesman)

Egyptian authorities on Sunday began implementing the decision of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to step up and extend security measures in some areas of the Sinai Peninsula, to “preserve security and protect facilities,” for another six months after the approval of Parliament.

The Egyptian House of Representatives, headed by Counselor Dr. Hanafi Jabali, approved last Wednesday the Presidential Decision No. 130 of 2022, regarding imposing some or all measures in some areas of the Sinai Peninsula, for another six months.

The decision extends the provisions of the Presidential Decree No. 442 of 2021. It was approved by a majority of the Parliament's members.

The decision was put in action starting Sunday, April 3, 2022.

Additional measures in the Sinai region included imposing a curfew and evacuating some residences.

On October 24, Sisi announced cancelling the state of emergency imposed on the whole country since 2017, justifying that Egypt “has become an oasis” of security and stability in the region. Meanwhile, the state of emergency in Sinai has been in place since 2014.

The new six-month extension of the state of emergency in the Sinai Peninsula will witness additional security measures.

Apart from the curfew and the evacuation, the string of measures will include a ban of entry to some areas and the barring of some communication means. Possession and obtaining some materials will also be prohibited as well as riding motorbikes.

Studies at Sinai Peninsula schools will either be partially or completely suspended.

The second article of the Presidential Decree included the imposition of a curfew in the areas specified by the Minister of Defense.

The curfew decision will be applied on areas from Tal Rafah in the eastern part of the Sinai Peninsula along the international border to Awja in the eastern part at Mount Halal. The curfew is also applicable in parts of northern Sinai, particularly from western Arish to southern Mount Halal.

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.