Egypt’s President Affirms Significance of ‘National Projects’

Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt’s President Affirms Significance of ‘National Projects’

Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Saturday affirmed that the hard work in “national projects” being implemented in the country aims to establish a new Egyptian reality, characterized by a high quality of life, and an increase in employment and development opportunities for all Egyptians.

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.

Sisi convened with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Major General, Ahmed Al-Azazy.

The spokesman for the Presidency, Ahmed Fahmy, stated that the meeting reviewed the status of a number of Engineering Authority projects in various sectors nationwide, particularly establishing and developing the road network, and achieving optimal utilization of lands and main roads to establish integrated industrial and agricultural development areas, in order to ease traffic jams.

This is in addition to increasing and facilitating the movement of trade and investments and promoting various economic activities, in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of comprehensive and sustainable development.

Engineering Authority projects, within the framework of the national strategy for the reconstruction and development of Sinai, were also presented as well as the status of the construction of projects in new cities across the country.

Sisi gave directives to continue work, while committing to the designated timetables, and to apply the highest standards in the stages of planning, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation. This is while taking into consideration environmental requirements.

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 earlier at a ceremony marking the 71st Police Day at the Police Academy Conference Complex.

"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."



Palestinian Health Ministry Says One Dead in Israel West Bank Raid

Demonstrators clash with Palestinian security forces in Nablus in the West Bank (File photo/Reuters)
Demonstrators clash with Palestinian security forces in Nablus in the West Bank (File photo/Reuters)
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Palestinian Health Ministry Says One Dead in Israel West Bank Raid

Demonstrators clash with Palestinian security forces in Nablus in the West Bank (File photo/Reuters)
Demonstrators clash with Palestinian security forces in Nablus in the West Bank (File photo/Reuters)

The health ministry in the occupied West Bank said one person was killed and nine injured in an Israeli raid on a refugee camp, with the Israeli military saying Saturday it had opened fire at "terrorists".

An 18-year-old man, Muhammad Medhat Amin Amer, "was killed by bullets from the (Israeli) occupation in the Balata camp" in the territory's north, the Palestinian health ministry said in a late-night statement, adding that nine people were injured, "four of whom are in critical condition".

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, the raid began on Friday night and triggered violent clashes, AFP reported.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli troops entered the camp from the Awarta checkpoint and "deployed snipers on the rooftops of surrounding buildings".

In a statement on Saturday, the Israeli military said that during the "counterterrorism" operation, "terrorists placed explosives in the area in order to harm (military) soldiers, hurled explosives, molotov cocktails, and rocks and shot fireworks at the forces".

"The forces fired toward the terrorists in order to remove the threat. Hits were identified," the statement said.

Violence in the West Bank has intensified since war broke out in the Gaza Strip after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Since then, at least 815 Palestinians have been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah.

In the same period, Palestinian attacks in the West Bank have killed at least 25 Israelis, according to official Israeli figures.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since conquering it in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.