From: Office of Terje Rod-Larsen <executiveofficegipinst.org> Subject: IPI Middle East Update - May 1, 2013 Date: Wed, 01 May 2013 14:33:16 +0000 INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE IPI Middle East Update May 1, 2013 Egypt: Tensions between the government and the judiciary were reignited when the Islamist-dominated Upper House of Parliament (the country's temporary legislative authority) moved quickly to consider a series of judicial reforms that have met with wide skepticism and sparked a judicial revolt. If passed, the reforms would end the terms of more than 3,000 judges by lowering their retirement age. The Muslim Brotherhood's unofficial stance claims that this move would "cleanse" the country's political arena of the "remnants" of the ousted regime, while the opposition has interpreted this as a purge of lawyers and judges who have, in recent times, voiced criticism of President Morsi and consider it another power grab aimed at consolidating the party's grip. The episode led to the resignation of Justice Minister Ahmed Mekki— considered an Islamist himself—and also brought new waves of violence to the street, near the presidential palace and at the Supreme Constitutional Court. As the political turmoil continues to rock Egypt's transition, the country continues to deal with further economic woes and social malaise. On the former issue, press reports indicate that President Morsi may be looking eastward for a sizeable loan from Russia to help give his foreign currency reserves a much- needed boost in the wake of an ever-elusive IMF loan. On the latter front, the abrupt closure of Egypt Independent, an independent English daily and go-to source of news for international readers, once again raised questions about press freedom in the supposedly democratic post-Mubarak Egypt. Syria: It appears that the "red line" which the Obama administration had declared over the use of chemical weapons in Syria has been crossed after the United States announced o