Most recent articles by Karim El-Gawhary
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Egypt Two Years after the RevolutionNo Agenda, No Goal
Egypt remains gripped in political turmoil and despite apparent efforts by President Morsi to initiate dialogue with his opponents, it appears neither he nor his rivals are able to come up with a concept to lead the nation out of its ongoing crisis. An analysis by Karim El-Gawhary
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Constitutional Referendum in EgyptThe Islamists' Pyrrhic Victory
Although a slim majority of votes cast in Saturday's first round support the new constitution, the Islamists have little reason to celebrate: only 18 percent of the electorate voted for the blueprint, as the Muslim Brotherhood's popularity continues on its downward trajectory. Commentary by Karim El-Gawhary
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The Gaza Conflict in the Wake of the Arab SpringThe Regional Powers' New Confidence
Egypt and Turkey, two regional powers in the Middle East, are getting actively involved in the Gaza conflict. Not only have they condemned Israel's attacks on Gaza, they are also looking for a long-term ceasefire solution. This is creating a new regional diplomacy and reconfiguring the relationship between the region and Europe and the USA, writes Karim El-Gawhary
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Assassination of Lebanese Intelligence Chief al-HassanLebanon in Syrian Captivity
After the assassination of Wissam al-Hassan, the head of intelligence of Lebanon's internal security forces, everything in Beirut points to an impending storm. Fears of a new civil war are rife. By Karim El-Gawhary
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Protests against Mohammed film in the Arab WorldAdding Grist to the Salafists' Mill
This is the latest episode of an ongoing saga that sees both western Islamophobes and Arab Salafists upping the ante. It began with a film produced in the US and viewed as a provocation by Muslims, and ended provisionally with four dead at the US consulate in Benghazi. Details from Karim El-Gawhary in Cairo
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The Supreme Military Council in Egypt Loses Its PowerThe Old Guard Steps Down
The political disempowerment of the supreme military leadership in Egypt must be the most important event since the fall of the former president, Hosni Mubarak. For the first time in the recent history of the country, a civilian president has issued a ruling which publicly confronts the military. By Karim El-Gawhary
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Egypt after the Presidential ElectionThe Military Hands over Power ... to Itself
For most people in Egypt, it was at best unlikely that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces would ever voluntarily cede power to a civilian president after the election. Nevertheless, few would have predicted the latest twist in the plot of Egypt's ongoing electoral drama. A commentary by Karim El-Gawhary
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The Syrian Dissident Walid al-Bunni''In a Revolution You Don't Have Much Time''
Walid al-Bunni is a prominent Syrian human rights activist and opponent of the Assad regime. In the light of the civil war going on in his homeland he calls for foreign intervention – and says the Syrian opposition must now reposition itself. Karim El-Gawhary met him in Cairo
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First TV Debate before Presidential Elections in EgyptPrime-time Cultural Revolution
A chapter of television and democracy history was written live before the eyes of millions of Egyptian TV viewers when for the first time candidates vied for the highest office of the land in a televised debate, Amr Moussa squaring off against Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh. By Karim El-Gawhary
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Presidential Race in EgyptPolitical Power Games on the Nile
The political tug-of-war in the run-up to the presidential elections in Egypt continues despite the fact that the front-runners representing the Islamists and the former regime have been disqualified. Details from Karim El-Gawhary in Cairo
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On the Death of Pope Shenouda IIIA Pragmatist Who Was Not Afraid to Take a Stand
Pope Shenouda III, the head of the Christian Coptic Church, passed away last weekend. Throughout his time as Coptic spiritual leader, he faced a variety of challenges from all sides: Islamisation, dictatorship and even revolution. His successor has yet to be named. Karim El-Gawhary reports from Cairo
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Start of the Trial against NGO Staff in EgyptIndignation instead of Evidence
Hardly begun and already adjourned: The accused foreigners in the case against the german Konrad Adenauer Foundation didn't even attend the trial in Cairo. By Karim El-Gawhary