For the first time in the history of Parliament since the revolution of July 1952, a large number of deputies have addressed strong criticisms towards President Hosni Mubarak and the National Democratic

Party (NDP) because of what they described as a failure to support the Arab resistance in Palestine and Lebanon. It has become customary for this President not to be moved at all. His name is hardly mentioned unless it is coupled with greatness and affection, addressed with the tribute and thanks of the People’s Deputies. This illustrates the size of hatred and rejection enjoyed by the policies of the ruling party at home and abroad.

Sixty opposition MPs demanded action from Dr. Fathi Sorour, President of the People’s Assembly, on the pace of hearings in relevant parliamentary committees to examine the implications of what is happening in the region to the Egyptian national security. They also called for an urgent meeting of the committees for Industry and Energy Research over accusations that the Israeli military machine uses Egyptian gas, electricity, and petroleum.

About 70 deputies from the liberal MPs went on foot from the parliament building to the Republican Palace, where they submitted a petition to the Head of State calling for urgent action by recalling Egypt’s ambassador from Tel Aviv and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Cairo, as well as reviewing all of the political, economic and security conventions concluded by Egypt with the Zionist entity.

After the meeting that liberal MPs held on Sunday afternoon of 13 August 2006, MP Dr. Gamal Zahran declared that the presidency was not the equal of the deputies who addressed the demands, adding that there must be a decent reception for them. He said that the regime is subordinate to the United States of America, and to the system that serves Israeli interests. MP Mahmoud Ashour denounced Sorour for his lack of enthusiasm for the demands of opposition deputies. He proposed holding funeral prayers for Arab leaders. MP Ahmed Abu Baraka stressed that the official Arab regimes are bankrupt and ceased to exist for him, a dishonor and a shame.

He addressed vitriolic criticism towards the regime in Egypt, its organization of society, and its broken policies that are determined outside the country. MP Essam Mokhtar accused NDP and its deputies in the People’s Assembly of selling the country. He said:“They left the resistance exposed and even supported Israel with their silente fidelity and by not taking any measure, even diplomatically, against Israel. Do not wait for something from them because they are not interested in what is happening around us, nor in what threatens the national security of Egypt. They are purely of American manufacture.”