June 19, 2016 15 News & Analysis Egypt Uncertainty about where Sisi’s Egypt is headed

Ahmed Gamal atively affected people’s trust in the value of these achievements.” He noted that Sisi’s latest ad- Cairo dresses showed that he lacks the political vision to achieve specific gyptians are deeply di- goals. “He is convinced that his vided on evaluating the projects can make up for his fail- performance of Egyptian ings,” Husseini added. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. His backers say he Sisi knows he needs to Ehas honoured pledges of preserv- reconsider his ing Egypt’s security and stability. relations with young His opponents say they are worried people; however, he about the future of freedoms and does not seem to have human rights. formulated a vision in Sisi says he has done for his coun- try in two years as president what this regard. his predecessors failed to do in 20, especially when it comes to secu- Some observers fault Sisi in that rity and stability. His detractors say he fails to acknowledge problems conditions have become far worse. in his general performance. He is When he campaigned for presi- intolerant to criticism and does not dent in May 2014, Sisi promised have a clear plan for reforming state that Egyptians’ conditions would institutions, the observers say. improve in the first two years of Sociologists attribute this to his leadership. Two years on, some his military background, which is economic, social and political manifest in how he runs the coun- promises are yet to be fulfilled. try. His focus on infrastructure pro- The issue of the Red Sea islands jects can explain why pledges have of Tiran and Sanafir, the killing of taken time to materialise. These Italian researcher Giulio Regeni projects are long-term and their and the Russian plane bombing returns need a long time to be felt. were cases in point, the sociolo- An Egyptian protester clashes with a President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi supporter during a demonstration Since taking office in 2014, Sisi gists said, adding that mismanage- protesting the government’s decision to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, in front of the has launched a number of na- ment made these crises spin out of Press Syndicate in Cairo, last April. tional projects, including housing control as state institutions sought projects for slum dwellers, imple- to hide facts and acted in a con- mentation of Egypt’s long-awaited fused manner. He even called 2016 the “Year of Sadek said it is normal for gov- state institutions, some of them in nuclear power project and mod- The islands’ crisis, for example, Youths”, apparently in an attempt ernment officials to detail their complete paralysis.” ernisation of the army. altered Sisi’s relation with the peo- to turn his rhetoric into tangible achievements after some time in Some state institutions appear to ple, even as the president was quick facts. office and noted that Sisi promised be out of service. Sisi did not men- Egyptians are deeply to realise this. He expressed fear “He faces problems in running to present a record of his work after tion a date for stability to return to divided on evaluating that pressures can change Egyp- the state,” said Mohamed al-Saada- two years. Sinai, where battles with extremists the performance of tians’ attitudes. ni, an Alexandria University law Sisi’s popularity holds and his rage. Egyptian President The case of the islands widened professor. “This is true after he met backers are confident about it since Sadek, meanwhile, says the pres- Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. rifts between Sisi and Egyptian challenges he did not anticipate, there is no obvious alternative who ident focused in the interview on young people. These rifts started including a slowing economy, com- can lead. They know Egypt’s politi- the positives, avoiding thorny is- Still, he is sometimes blamed for before he became president, when plicated social issues, and the ef- cal forces are weak and do not have sues, such as the dam Ethiopia is failing to assure the people. The the protest law was passed, caus- fects of political and security prob- leadership experience. building on the Nile and the lack of number of national projects, they ing scores of youths to be jailed for lems on Egypt both internally and In his interview, Saadani said, a national counterterrorism strat- say, has impugned morale since staging protests without govern- externally.” Sisi did not mention failings and egy. citizens see prices for basic com- ment permission. Later policies Sisi always tries to appear calm. when he came near them, he attrib- “I understand why he focused on modities at record highs. widened the gap. He chose to appear in a televised in- uted them to what he called “evil some issues and avoided others,” “Political weaknesses in the past Sisi knows he needs to reconsider terview on June 3rd — just short of forces”, even as he did not say what Sadek said, “but I hope that in the period affect the whole scene and his relations with young people; his second anniversary as president these forces were. next interview he will talk about outweigh the achievements made,” however, he does not seem to have — to talk about his record, raise his “He did not come up with solu- the things people do not know.” said Abdel-Aziz el-Husseini, depu- formulated a vision in this regard. popularity rating and assure Egyp- tions to problems,” Saadani said. ty head of the leftist Karama (Dig- He downplays the problem, always tians about the future. “He also failed to mention the Ahmed Gamal is an Egyptian nity) Party. “Successive crises neg- saying that youths stand by him. Political sociology Professor Said measures he takes to restructure writer. Egypt tries to restart Palestinian, Israel peace talks

Khaled Osama the Gaza Strip, and international conditional on Palestinian unity. Analysts in Cairo say Egypt is branch of the Islamic State (ISIS). players, including the United States. Palestinian unity featured highly more capable than ever before of Whether Cairo will succeed in Cairo Soon after Sisi made his call for in Sisi’s May 17th address. He called bringing Palestinian factions closer helping the Palestinians and the Is- peace, it was picked up by Netan- on Palestinian factions to get over together because it enjoys strong raelis reach a deal is uncertain and gyptian President Ab- yahu, who lauded the Egyptian their differences and solve their ties with all factions. depends on whether both sides del Fattah al-Sisi’s latest president’s leadership and said he disagreements. “Egypt talks to Hamas, talks to Fa- want a deal, observers say. peace push, coordinated planned to visit Egypt with oppo- tah and talks to all other minor Pal- Egypt does not have a specific with Palestinian President sition leader Isaac Herzog to meet estinian factions,” Saad al-Zunt, the peace initiative to offer the Palestin- Mahmoud Abbas, is at Sisi and discuss means of bringing head of local think-tank Centre for ians and the Israelis, according to a Eleast likely to bring the Palestinians Palestinian-Israeli peacemaking Political Studies, said. “It also has senior Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the Israelis back to the negotiat- back on track, according to Israeli strong ties with Israel.” source who requested anonymity. ing table, sources and analysts say. media. A short time later the Egyp- On June 5th, Hamas deputy head Despite this, the same source said “Abbas was in Cairo only days tian government denied plans for Ismail Haniyeh said the move- that Cairo can work out an initiative before President Sisi called on the any meetings between Sisi and ment was open to Egyptian ef- when it makes sure that the Pales- Palestinians and the Israelis to work Israeli leaders after after that, forts to bring Palestinian fac- tinians and the Israelis want to go together to achieve peace,” Pales- US Secretary of State John tions together. “We have taken back to the negotiating table. tinian Ambassador to Egypt Jamal Kerry flew to Cairo to discuss, the decision to build Palestin- Regardless of whether this will al-Shoubaki said. “Both presidents among other things, Sisi’s ian national unity on solid happen, Sisi has received what discussed their visions for coordi- peace push. foundations,” Haniyeh said at he wanted from offering an olive nating their political moves; ending On June 13th, a delegation a rally in Gaza. “We welcome branch to the Palestinians and the the Israeli occupation of Palestinian from Fatah, Abbas’ move- any Arab and Egyptian efforts for Israelis, some people say. territories and ending inter-Pales- ment, arrived in Cairo for meet- resuming inter-Palestinian talks.” Sisi wants to project the image of a tinian rifts.” ings with Egyptian officials be- Egypt has been tightening pres- man of peace. He told a US newspa- fore heading to Doha to meet sure around Gaza, especially per two years ago that he expects to Sisi wants to project Hamas representatives, accord- since Sisi came to power in 2013, be killed by Islamic radicals exactly the image of a man of ing to Mohammad Shtayyeh, a to, among other things, convince as Egypt’s president Anwar Sadat peace. member of Fatah’s Central Com- Hamas to mend fences with Fatah, was in 1981, after making peace with mittee. He was quoted by Turkey’s observers say. Israel. Sisi put the stalled Palestinian- Anadolu Agency as saying that After two years of an almost full Some analysts are not ready to Israeli peace process back on the meetings with the Egyptian officials closure of the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s buy into Sisi’s peace efforts. One of agenda on May 17th by calling for would focus on inter-Palestinian only gate into the outside world, them is Fouad Allam, a veteran se- the two sides to work together to reconciliation. Hamas seems to be more ready to curity expert, who says the presi- make peace. Palestinian-Israeli peacemaking listen to Cairo. Several Hamas lead- dent’s push will continue to be a Sisi said peacemaking would give came to a halt in April 2014 after ers were in Cairo in March and met mere dream. the Palestinians hope, give the Is- Fatah and Hamas reached a unity Egyptian intelligence officials. Ab- “The Palestinians will always be raelis security and open a new chap- agreement after years of tension. bas is also a frequent guest in Cairo. divided. They have always been so ter in Israeli-Arab relations. The deal came about because of the Egypt in 1979 became the first in the past and will continue to be His speech did not, however, open door for inter-Palestinian rec- Arab country to sign a peace treaty so forever,” Allam said. “Israel will come by chance or without calcu- onciliation. with Israel. This peace was always never cede land to the Palestinians lation, experts said. He must have Nevertheless, the agreement an- described as “cold” but, according either. The experiences of the past taken his cue from, apart from Ab- gered Netanyahu, who said Abbas Palestinian President to Israeli officials, this peace is far teach us many lessons in this re- bas, several parties, including Israe- had preferred reconciliation with Mahmoud Abbas (L), warmer now than ever before. The gard.” li Prime Minister Binyamin Netan- Hamas to peace with Israel even talks to Egyptian president two countries have strong security yahu, the leaders of the Palestinian as Tel Aviv made a continuation of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, coordination, especially in the Sinai Khaled Osama is an Egyptian movement Hamas, which controls peace talks with the Palestinians on May 9th. peninsula, where Egypt is fighting a reporter based in Cairo.