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No one story dominated the airwaves last night, as the nation’s talking heads had their attention split between rumors of tenders for Ras Ghamila, the resignation of the Palestinian Authority government, and the prices of essential commodities.
Government denies Ras Ghamila talks: “There are no negotiations regarding a project to develop the Ras Ghamila area in Sharm El Sheikh,” Public Enterprises Ministry spokesman Mansour Abdel Ghany, told El Heykaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime: 24:40). Abdel Ghany was responding to reports that the government is considering offering the area to Saudi investors for a price of USD 15 bn. However, Abdel Ghany added that a government committee is currently looking at ways to economically benefit from Ras Ghamila and the surrounding areas, and it may look to consult with experts to see how best to use the land.
Palestinian Authority’s PM Mohammad Shtayyeh’s resignation received plenty of airtime, with Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidy paying tribute to Shtayyeh’s government, saying that it "faced the most difficult situations with great courage" (watch, runtime: 3:00). “There are reports circulating about the formation of a government headed by Mohammed Mustafa; if that happens, it will not add anything new to the Palestinian political system. Change is required, but it must be real," former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al Qudwa told Al Hadidy (watch runtime: 8:12). Al Hayah Al Youm also had the story (watch, runtime: 11:54).
And on the commodities front: Prices of essential commodities will witness a decline during the coming period against the backdrop of foreign currency inflows from the Ras El Hekma agreement, and with the gradual release of outstanding goods that were previously stuck in ports, Supply Minister Ali El Moselhy confirmed in a statement to Ala Mas’ouleety (watch, runtime: 1:57 | 2:56). The current crisis is a distribution problem rather than a USD problem, Al Moselhy added, explaining that Egypt has six months worth of strategic sugar reserves and strategic wheat reserves that are sufficient for more than three months.
