This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

• Egypt's lawyers threaten strikes and legal action against Morsi
• Hamas says it's OK to smuggle weapons into Gaza again

Egypt's lawyers threaten strikes and legal action against Morsi

Anti-Morsi demonstrations in Tahrir Square on Friday (Reuters)

Egypt's government, which had begun to appear more stable in recent months, is now in a state of total chaos, after president Mohamed Morsi issued his decree on Thursday giving himself full dictatorship power that can't even by challenged by the courts. On Saturday, different groups of judges held separate extraordinary meetings and assemblies, either supporting or condemning Morsi. Hundreds of judges at the general assembly for the Judges' Club at the High Court discussed measures to oppose Morsi, and have called for strikes in Alexandria and other cities. However, the reform judges caucus "Judges for Egypt" announced their support for Morsi, claiming that Morsi's opponents want to reinstate the old regime of Hosni Mubarak. Al-Ahram (Cairo)

Hamas says it's OK to smuggle weapons into Gaza again

A spokesman for Hamas is saying that it's untrue that that the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire agreement signed by Hamas and Israel on Wednesday forbids the importation of more weapons. He was commenting on reports that claimed special US army units would be deployed along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to stop the flow of weapons to Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups.

And indeed, I posted the full text of the agreement a couple of days ago, and it says absolutely nothing about forbidding Hamas from importing more weapons and missiles.

However, an Israeli official pointed out that a White House statement that followed the agreement does imply military help from America in blocking weapons smuggling into Gaza.

Here is Wednesday's White House statement:

"Readout of the President’s Call to Prime Minister Netanyahu

President Obama spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu today and reiterated his commitment to Israel’s security.

The President made clear that no country can be expected to tolerate rocket attacks against civilians.

The President expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister’s efforts to work with the new Egyptian government to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and a more durable solution to this problem.

The President commended the Prime Minister for agreeing to the Egyptian ceasefire proposal – which the President recommended the Prime Minster do – while reiterating that Israel maintains the right to defend itself.

The President said that the United States would use the opportunity offered by a ceasefire to intensify efforts to help Israel address its security needs, especially the issue of the smuggling of weapons and explosives into Gaza.

The President said that he was committed to seeking additional funding for Iron Dome and other US-Israel missile defense programs."

The next-to-last paragraph says that America will help prevent weapons smuggling, without saying how. Does this imply that the president offered military help in preventing weapons smuggling? If not, then what kind of help was intended? Jerusalem Post and White House

Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail