Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened by corruption scandal
(JNS.org) Turkey’s Islamist Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing an increasing pressure on his rule amid a corruption scandal that has already forced three of his top ministers to resign. The corruption probe, revealed by prosecutors on Dec. 17, targeted the resigned minister’s sons with allegations that they received bribes for construction projects.
The resignation included Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdogan Bayraktar, a close advisor to Erdogan, as well as two other ministers. In a surprise move, Bayraktar then called for Erdogan to step down as well.
“To soothe the nation, I believe that the prime minister should resign, too,” Bayraktar said, the Wall Street Journal reported.
An additional seven ministers were also forced out after Erdogan met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
Last summer, a protest over the development of Istanbul’s Gezi Park devolved into widespread protests against Erdogan and his Islamist AKP party. Many accused Erdogan and the AKP of pushing Islamic values and stifling dissent against the government.
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Egypt declares Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization
(JNS.org) The Egyptian government on Wednesday declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group, blaming the group for a suicide bomb attack that killed 16 people and wounded more than 100 at a police headquarters. As a result, membership in the group has now become a criminal offense. Egypt’s military-backed government has been fighting the Muslim Brotherhood since a military coup toppled former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.
Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education Hossam Eissa gave a formal Cabinet statement declaring “the Muslim Brotherhood group and its organization as a terrorist organization..It’s not possible for Egypt the state nor Egypt the people to submit to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorism.”
Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Ahmed el-Borai also said at a news conference that “all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood group are — banned including the demonstrations,” the Associated Press reported.
The Muslim Brotherhood has denied involvement in the recent attack, and the al-Qaida-inspired and Sinai-based group Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the bombing Wednesday, Reuters reported.
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Palestinian prisoners to be released despite recent terror attacks
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israel plans to forge ahead with the third phase of the Palestinian prisoners’ release despite the recent string of terror attacks. The release has been set for Sunday and will include 26 terrorists.
Israel pledged to release 104 terrorists who were jailed prior to the 1993 Oslo Accords, ahead of the resumption of the peace talks in July. The gesture was divided into four phases, two of which — comprising 52 Palestinian prisoners — have already been completed.
A senior Jerusalem source said Tuesday that “government decisions, much like promises made to the U.S., must be kept.” He stressed that “the situation on the ground, including the terror attacks noted over the past few days will not affect the release, despite the fact that they weigh heavily on the public’s mind.”
Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Tuesday that the government is likely to hold a special session ahead of the fourth phase of the prisoners’ release, to discuss whether or not to include Israeli Arab prisoners in the process.
“The prime minister promised [the ministers] that the issue of releasing Israeli-Arab prisoners would be revisited,” he said. “Releasing terrorists is problematic as it is, and it has certainly contributed to the recent wave of terror. We have to reassess the situation.”
As ahead of the previous phases, members of the political Right protested the move. Deputy Defense Minister MK Danny Danon (Likud) on Wednesday facilitated a meeting between MKs from the Right and the mothers of terror victims, who sought to present the MKs with what they called “the consensus against the terrorists’ release.”
“Going ahead with the third phase of the terrorists’ release in beyond absurd, especially given the recent wave of terror attacks,” Finance Committee Chairman MK Nissan Slomiansky (Habayit Hayehudi) said.
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Preceding provided by JNS.org