Excerpts:Syria: Foreign Direct Investment falls 42%.New Ramadan TV
criticized for 'un-Islamic content'. Egypt's Court rejects Morsi's order.
Egypt, Saudi, Kuwait market decline. "Confrontation looms in Cairo" 10 July
2012

+++SOURCE: The Syria Report 9 July '12:"Deputy PM Says Gas Shortages
Structural"
SUBJECT: Sanctions hinder gas supply
TEXT:There is no structural solution to the domestic gas shortages facing
the country as long as sanctions are in place, Qadri Jamil, the new deputy
Prime Minister in charge of domestic trade and consumer production said,
blaming “sons of b…� for the hike in prices.

+++SOURCE: The Syria Report 9 July '12:" Syria Foreign Direct Investment
Declines 42 Percent over Unrest
SUBJECT: Foreign Direct Investment falls 42%.
TEXT:Foreign direct investment in Syria fell 42 percent last year on the
back of the uprising gripping the country, according to the World Investment
Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Investment.

SOURCE: The Syria Report 9 July '12:"Traffic Falls 21 Percent at Lattakia
Port"
SUBJECT:Syria Lattakia Port traffic drops 21%
Text:Container traffic at the Port of Lattakia fell 21.03 percent in the
first half of this year compared to the same period of 2011.

+++SOURCE: Alarabiya News via Egypt Daily News 10 July '12:"Egypt’s
‘un-Islamic’ Ramadan TV tackles rise of Islamist power"byy EMAN EL-SHENAWI

SUBJECT: New Ramadan TV criticized for 'un-Islamic content'

QUOTE: " ' New Islamist presidential administration my tackle this issue' "

EXCERPTS:Egyptians anticipating new seasonal television dramas and quiz
shows during the upcoming Islamic month of Ramadan in July could be in for a
mood dampener.

The county’s recent political change, which has shown a rise in Islamic
political power with the recent inauguration of President Mohammed Mursi ─
who came from the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood ─ may impact what the
viewing public in Egypt watch on the small screen.

Ramadan programs, which commonly include a mix of 30-day long soap operas
with either a comedic, social, religious, political or patriotic twist, have
been criticized by Islamist clerics and analysts as containing “un-Islamic�
content.

Dance and musical scenes, actors and actresses donning revealing clothing,
storylines tackling subjects such as drinking, drugs and sex are some of the
contested themes showcased.

Islamist members of parliament have previously described them as “candid�
and “unregulated,� suggesting that they deviate from the Islamic practices
of the holy month, which include fasting from sunrise to sunset and prayer.

“Something has to be done,� says Egyptian Islamic thinker Kamal Habib, a
former leader of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad organization.

A particular type of Ramadan programming ─ displaying the songs, dances and
features usually attributed to a Broadway musical ─ has become a staple
watch.

The seasonal series’ of Ramadan quiz shows, popularly known as “Fawazeer
Ramadan,� often feature iconic actors and actresses in performances which
appeal to both children and adults.

In the 1970s and 80s, the phenomenon showcased Nelly and Sherehan; young,
pretty Egyptian actresses with the ability to sing, dance and act fun scenes
from age-old tales and pose riddles at the end of the show for viewers to
answer.

The Fazoora phenomenon has endured, with the most recent seasonal show in
2011 starring Maryam Fares, a Lebanese singer and actress who dances on
creative on-screen sets during the 30-day season. Fares’ show had broadcast
on several private Arab channels.

“Many [Islamic clerics and influential figures] have complained, long and
hard, about Ramadan programming,� Habib says, adding that he expects Egypt’s
new Islamist presidential administration may tackle this issue, if not for
Ramadan 2012, then for the next year.

“They have shown un-Islamic content and made viewers unable to do what they
have to do during Ramadan,� Habib says, referring to a practicing Muslim’s
aim to focus on prayer and the day-long fast.

. . .
“Egypt’s TV entertainment industry has to realize also that their society is
changing,� adds Habib, with regards to the rising popularity of Islamist
presidential and parliamentary power.

“The industry now has different duties towards its new society, which
require a change in its ethical manners in line with the shifting behavior
of the Egyptian people.�

+++SOURCE: Egyptian Gazette 10 July '12:"Egypt top court says ruling
nullifying parliament 'binding", Agence France Presse'

SUBJECT Egypt Court rejects Morsi's order
QUOTE:" 'All rulings of the Supreme Constitutional Court are final and not
sublect to appeal ...and are binding for all state institutions' "

CAIRO - Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court said on Monday that all of its
rulings were FULL TEXT:"binding," in response to a presidential decree
reinstating parliament after the court ruled the house invalid.

"All the rulings and decisions of the Supreme Constitutional Court are final
and not subject to appeal... and are binding for all state institutions,"
the court said in a statement.

Several people have gone to court to challenge President Mohammed Morsi's
decision ordering the return of the Parliament, and the Supreme
Constitutional Court said it would look into these cases.

The court also stressed that it was "not a part of any political conflict...
but the limit of its sacred duty is the protection of the texts of the
constitution."

The Supreme Constitutional Court had said certain articles in the law
governing parliamentary elections were invalid, annulling the Islamist-led
house.

On Sunday, Morsi in turn annulled the court's decision, putting himself on a
collision course with the judiciary and the military that enforced the
ruling when it was in power.

+++SOURCE: Egyptian Gazette 10 July '12:" Egypt mkt plunges as president
defies army; Saudi down".Reuters
SUBJECT: Egypt,Saudi, Kuwait market decline

EXCERPT:DUBAI - Egypt's benchmark index made its largest drop in three weeks
on Monday[9 July] after the new president ordered parliament to reconvene,
challenging military authority, while Saudi Arabia shares also slid
following protests in its oil-producing east.

+++SOURCE: Saudi Gazette 10 July '12:" Confrontation looms in Cairo"
SUBJECT:Confrontation looms in Cairo"

QUOTE:The Supreme Constitutional Court . . .will review cases challenging
the constitutionality of Morsy's decree Tuesday (10 July)"
FULL TEXT:CAIRO — Egypt’s parliamentary speaker said the chamber would
reconvene Tuesday[10 July] after the new president risked a showdown with
the generals by quashing their decision to dissolve the assembly last month.

Quoted by the state news agency Monday[9 July], Saad Al-Katatni, who like
President Mohamed Morsy hails from Muslim Brotherhood, said the lower house
would sit from noon (1000 GMT) Tuesday[10 July], defying the army’s order to
dismiss parliament a month ago based on a court ruling.

Morsy issued his decree to recall parliament Sunday [8 July]barely a week
after he took office. That threatened fresh uncertainty for a nation whose
economy is on the ropes and where many are anxious for calm after 17
turbulent months since the fall of Hosni Mubarak.

Yet Morsy and Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of the military council,
showed no hint of discord Monday[9 July] when the president, as he did last
week, attended a military parade. Seated next to each other, Morsy and
Tantawi turned to each other in a brief jovial exchange, television images
showed.
The powerful military, meanwhile, delivered a thinly veiled warning to
Morsi, saying it trusted that all state institutions will respect the
constitutional declarations issued by the military during its 16 months in
power since the fall of Mubarak.

The Supreme Constitutional Court, whose ruling led to parliament being
dissolved, asserted that its decisions were final and binding, in a
statement issued after the court met in emergency session in response to
Morsy’s decree. The court also said it would review cases challenging the
constitutionality of Morsy’s decree Tuesday[10 July].

The Egyptian Social Democratic Party, which has a handful of seats in
parliament, condemned the president’s recall of the assembly, saying it was
a “violation of the judicial power� and resembled the high-handed approach
long seen from the army. About 1,000 people gathered in Cairo’s prosperous
Nasser City suburb to protest Morsy’s decision.

The Brotherhood called on its website for a show of support for Morsy on the
street Tuesday[10 Ju;y]. It, however, played down any dispute. “We affirm
that there is no confrontation with the judiciary and the decision respects
the verdict of the constitutional court,� said presidential aide Yasser Ali.
Katatni said parliament would discuss Tuesday “how to implement the court
ruling� that declared the assembly void and a legal committee would be asked
to draw up proposals.

In a further sign the generals may not challenge Morsy head on, the state
news agency reported that guards at parliament had allowed some members into
the building Monday[9 July] It had been declared off limits when the army
ordered the chamber dissolved. — Agencies
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Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA