It is true that President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt has entitled himself last week to sweeping new powers, making his decisions immune to any form of oversight. But the context of a frail post-revolution Egypt justifies his manoeuvre, wrote columnist Mazen Hammad in Saturday's edition of the Qatari newspaper Al Watan.
"What is he supposed to do when he sees Egypt slipping away from the [ideals of the] revolution and back into the lap of the old regime?" the writer asked. "What is he supposed to do when the court rulings against those who ordered the killing of protesters in the January revolution came down to acquittals?"
Senior Egyptian security officials, including ousted president Hosni Mubarak, are in effect still "above the law", the columnist argued, although Mubarak and his interior minister have, in fact, been sentenced to life in prison by a court in Cairo earlier this year.
President Morsi took everyone by surprise when he issued a series of irreversible decrees on Thursday, namely sacking the nation's "pro-old regime" public prosecutor, Abdel Meguid Mahmoud. But sceptics and political opponents must not downplay the good intentions, and potentially positive results, behind Mr Morsi's move.
"While opponents of President Morsi - and the Muslim Brotherhood he represents - are accusing him of appointing himself as a pharaoh or acting as a God-appointed ruler, his advisers are asserting that the new decrees will become null as soon as Egypt gets a new parliament and a new constitution," the columnist said.
For the sake of objectivity, one must admit that President Morsi was "forced to take those measures", to "preserve Egypt's revolution, national unity and security", he wrote.
"Egypt's fragility perhaps requires Mr Morsi's iron fist to ward off the hungry for power, all those who readily reject an Egyptian president from the Muslim Brotherhood," the writer said.
Plus, one must keep in mind that Mr Morsi does not have only opponents. His supporters maintain that the measures he took were necessary to protect the revolution during this interim period.
"For them, what the president did was not bring all powers into his hands, as the allegation goes, but rather act on an urgent issue, which is the festering corruption of an old regime that still has hidden pockets across state institutions, especially in the judiciary," the columnist said.
"So, to anyone who is sceptical about the president's motives, I say give him a few months, just enough time until a new constitution is drafted and a new parliament is elected. These will be the protections that the Egyptian state and revolution need to keep the remnants of the old regime from slithering back to power."
Muslim Brotherhood's moves not surprising
One can only be surprised at the shock of all those who criticise the Muslim Brotherhood move in Egypt. President Morsi has given himself authority that no ruler before him since the time of the pharaohs has enjoyed, said Tariq Al Homayed, the editor of the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al Awsat.
Since the start of Egypt's revolution, a number of columnists and scholars have been warning of the Brotherhood's schemes. Experiences with Islamic movements in the past proved that they don't believe in democracy and they use it as a one-way ticket to monopolise power. Their tools are handy and simple: speaking in the name of God and anyone who dares to contradict is an infidel, a traitor and a Zionist.
In the face of widespread public and institutional outrage over the president's takeover, Islamic movements and their allies in Egypt and elsewhere are busy making up justifications.
"Most amusing of all was the excuse that said the way to democracy needs dictatorial decisions. Other justifications claimed that Mr Morsi's move is temporary and that he should be given a chance," said the writer.
"The Brotherhood's manoeuvre in Egypt was expected. When it comes to politics, factors such as history, geography, constitutions and past experiences are essential. Anyone who took the trouble to read one of the Brotherhood's books wouldn't have been shocked at their actions now."
Changed region yields new results in Gaza
The eight-day war in Gaza left 161 Palestinians killed, over 1,200 wounded and much of the besieged city in ruins. But this time Hamas rockets, the will of resistance and the winds of the Arab Spring have made Israel feel more pain than Palestinians and rush for a ceasefire, Taoufik Bouachrine wrote in the Moroccan daily Akhbar Al Youm.
So what happened to the balance of power, which Arab governments had thought would never tip against Israel, that drove it to seek an urgent ceasefire? Three things.
First, deterrent weapons. Gaza's rockets have broken the myth of Israel's unbreakable security. Hamas fired more than 1,200 missiles, some of which hit near Tel Aviv, a major strategic shift in the region.
Second, the response of the Arab Spring countries which did not remain inactive or biased for Israel. Egypt's President Morsi recalled the ambassador in protest and sent his premier on a solidarity visit. Then Foreign ministers of Tunisia and Turkey followed suit, and so did the Arab League.
And third, a failed peace process. The world forgot the toothless authority in the West Bank led by Mahmoud Abbas, which lacks real pressure and relies on good intentions in a world that heeds only the powerful.
* Digest compiled by The Translation Desk
Translation@thenational.ae
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Company%20Profile
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The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
Company%20Profile
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
Jawan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAtlee%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Nayanthara%2C%20Vijay%20Sethupathi%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
if you go
The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles.
IPL 2018 FINAL
Sunrisers Hyderabad 178-6 (20 ovs)
Chennai Super Kings 181-2 (18.3 ovs)
Chennai win by eight wickets
Company%20Profile
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Match info
What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm
World%20Food%20Day%20
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