Egypt's Sisi Backs National Projects, Rejects Claims Economic Crisis Caused by Domestic Policies

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian presidency)
TT

Egypt's Sisi Backs National Projects, Rejects Claims Economic Crisis Caused by Domestic Policies

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi rejected "misleading claims" that said the global economic crisis was only limited to Egypt and caused by domestic policies.

He also defended national projects, saying they were the basis for achieving comprehensive economic development and expressed his confidence in Egypt's ability to overcome the crisis.

Sisi was speaking at a ceremony marking 71st Police Day at the Police Academy Conference Complex.

He said the world is witnessing a "harsh and unprecedented economic crisis" not seen since the Great Depression and the two world wars.

The repercussions of the current crisis resulted in what is now known internationally as the global cost of living situation, he remarked, adding that the government aimed to mitigate the impact of the crisis.

Sisi acknowledged that the impact of the crisis is significant and burdened the citizens, especially low-income groups who struggle daily to meet their needs.

He asserted the state's commitment to supporting the people.

The government is working on providing for their families' needs in ways that help them confront price hikes.

"The state remains steadfast in its commitment to help these people in a way that does not and will not change," Sisi vowed.

Egypt, like other countries in the world, is facing an economic crisis due to the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The crisis has been compounded by a drop in the currency against the dollar.

The country received recently a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The economic crunch has increased political criticism against government spending allocated for mega national projects.

Sisi explained that Egypt's economic and demographic conditions necessitate taking giant leaps in a short time, stressing that the country is in a race against time to overcome the dangers and repercussions of population growth.

The major development projects carried out by the state were not for show, but necessary to establish the investment environment and infrastructure to achieve comprehensive economic development that raises the standard of living of all people, said Sisi.

"It is impossible to embark on the path of modern industrialization and massive export without having the necessary elements to achieve this, including cities, roads, a transportation network, technology, electricity, water, and sanitation."

Addressing the currency exchange rate, the president stressed that the dollar crisis is not new but a recurring pattern resulting from the country's weak production and export capabilities and its increasing demand for dollar goods and services.

"Boosting production and export is pivotal for Egypt. We know that and are sparing no effort as we work to achieve that aim," added Sisi.

Police Day is celebrated on January 25 and commemorates the police’s resistance against the British occupation forces in Ismailia in 1952. Dozens of officers were killed at the time.



Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal Compared to Swiss Cheese, Full of Gaps

Israelis block road in Jerusalem, demanding agreement implementation and hostage release (AFP)
Israelis block road in Jerusalem, demanding agreement implementation and hostage release (AFP)
TT

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal Compared to Swiss Cheese, Full of Gaps

Israelis block road in Jerusalem, demanding agreement implementation and hostage release (AFP)
Israelis block road in Jerusalem, demanding agreement implementation and hostage release (AFP)

The ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal reached between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday evening is facing a crisis that could prevent it from going forward before it gets Israeli approval or is put into effect.
The agreement is full of gaps, much like Swiss cheese. Despite outlining three phases aimed at bringing the war to a close, it is accompanied by Israeli military actions that continue to claim dozens of lives in Gaza.
Asharq Al-Awsat reviewed the deal’s terms and the different interpretations from both sides.
The first issue comes from the opening of the agreement’s appendix: Practical procedures and mechanisms to implement the agreement for the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and the return to a sustainable calm which would achieve a permanent ceasefire between the two sides.
What does “sustainable calm” mean? In Israel, officials say it means Israel has the right to resume fighting after the first phase. Palestinians, however, claim US President-elect Donald Trump’s administration has promised the war won’t restart. Both sides interpret the term differently.
The goal of the agreement is clear: release all Israeli prisoners—alive or dead—captured by Palestinians. In return, Israel will release a “negotiated number” of Palestinian prisoners.
The exchange is set to begin on “Day One,” the day the ceasefire takes effect, but it's still unclear when that will be.
In the first phase (42 days), the agreement calls for “a temporary halt to military operations by both sides and the withdrawal of the Israeli army eastward” from “high-population areas along the Gaza border, including the Gaza Valley.”
Hamas claims the maps provided for this were incomplete.
Even though the agreement mentions “the return of displaced people to their homes and withdrawal from Gaza Valley,” people will have to walk several kilometers and vehicles will be inspected, which could lead to disagreements and clashes.
As for humanitarian aid, the agreement allows for its entry starting on “Day One” (600 trucks daily, including 50 fuel trucks, with 300 heading to northern Gaza).
This includes fuel for the power plant and equipment for debris removal, rehabilitation, and hospital operations.
But the agreement doesn’t clarify how the aid will be distributed or who will control it. Will Hamas continue to oversee it? Will Israel agree? If Hamas takes charge, what happens then? This could lead to further complications.
The criteria for the first phase of the prisoner exchange are clear, but the agreement states that “the prisoner exchange terms for the first phase will not apply to the second phase.”
Hamas wants more Palestinian prisoners released, but Israel rejects this. If disagreements have arisen over clear criteria in the first phase, what will happen when the criteria are more vague?
The agreement sets a deadline of “Day 16” for indirect talks to finalize the conditions for the second phase, particularly regarding the prisoner exchange.
One clause is seen by Israel as not requiring it to carry out the second phase, while Hamas views it as a guarantee to prevent the war from restarting. The clause states: “Qatar, the US, and Egypt will make every effort to ensure continued indirect negotiations until both sides agree on the terms for the second phase.”
However, the phrase “make every effort” does not create a binding legal obligation.
The agreement is full of gaps that could become major problems for both sides. While this doesn’t mean the deal should be dismissed, it shows that many parts of the agreement are fragile and depend on mutual trust and good intentions—both of which are lacking in this region.