Egypt political forces discuss Gaza assault at FJP headquarters

Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party hosts groups from across political spectrum to mull response to ongoing Israeli aggression against Hamas-run Gaza Strip Several Egyptian political parties and groups met at the Cairo headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) on Friday afternoon to discuss the latest round of Israeli aggression against the next-door Gaza Strip and examine proposals for ending the bloodshed. The meeting was attended by a wide range of political groups, including the FJP (under chairman Saad El-Katatni); the Salafist Nour, Asala, and Fadila parties; the liberal Free Egyptians party; the Ghad El-Thawra Party; and the 6 April youth movement, along with several former Nasserist Party and independent MPs. Meeting participants are expected to issue a joint statement condemning the ongoing Israeli aggression and announce how they planned to deal with the mounting crisis. Political forces present at the meeting also praised Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's decision on Wednesday to withdraw Egypt's ambassador to Israel, along with Prime Minister Hisham Qandil's Friday visit to the besieged coastal enclave. Those present also called for international intervention aimed at halting the violence, along with stepped-up support from the Arab world, particularly from an emergency meeting of the Cairo-based Arab League slated for Saturday. Notably, the liberal Wafd Party – members of which were concurrently holding a pro-Gaza rally in Cairo's Mohamed Fareed Square – did not attend the meeting. At their demonstration, Wafd Party members criticised the Muslim Brotherhood's response to the crisis, saying that the group's Gaza policies risked "provoking" Israel. From Ahramonline