Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — The new Islamic-dominated parliament has been preparing to
approve a resolution to reject U.S. military aid to Egypt.

The People’s Assembly has urged the Cairo government to stop accepting
U.S. military aid to Egypt. The parliament, dominated by the Muslim
Brotherhood and its Salafist ally, said Egypt could not agree to any
restrictions in exchange for $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military
assistance.

“I wish members of the U.S. Congress could listen to you now to realize that this is the parliament of the revolution, which does not allow a breach of the nation’s sovereignty or interference in its affairs,” parliament speaker Saad El Katatni said on March 11.

This marked the first time that Egypt’s parliament has sought to disrupt U.S. civilian or military assistance. The call for a vote by the 508-member People’s Assembly to stop receiving U.S. aid came during a debate over the Egyptian crackdown on American-sponsored non-governmental organizations, in which 16 Americans had faced trial.

Egypt has been receiving $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid since 1980 in wake of its peace treaty with Israel. The aid enabled Egypt to purchase more than 200 F-16s and 1,000 M1A1 main battle tanks. Cairo also receives about $250 million per year in civilian assistance.

The parliamentary session was marked by threats against the government
of Prime Minister Kamel Ganzouri as well as the military regime, the latter
which has ruled Egypt since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in
February 2011. Islamist deputies blamed the military regime for allowing all
but one of the American defendants to leave Egypt on March 1.

Four Cabinet ministers were sent to brief parliament on the
Egyptian-U.S. crisis over the NGOs. The deputies, who also prepared to
introduce a no-confidence motion and called for the expulsion of Israel’s
ambassador, repeatedly interrupted the testimony of the ministers and
questioned their credibility. The ministers left parliament before
completing their testimony.

“It seems that the government is pushing for a crisis with parliament,”
El Katatni said.

  $1.3 billion annually in U.S. military aid, Egypt’s parliament set to call for ending U.S. military aid, Hosni Mubarak, Muslim Brotherhood, NGOs, Prime Minister Kamel Ganzouri, Saad El Katatni, Salafists