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The latest spy thriller to hit Egyptian cinema is “Welad El-Am.”  Shot in Egypt, Syria and South Africa, the drama action movie is about a Muslim Egyptian mother of two who suddenly learns her husband is a Jewish Israeli Mossad agent.  Daniel (Sherif Mounir) gives Salwa (Mona Zaki) two options – to stay or leave to Egypt without the children. 

The action begins when a Muslim Egyptian intelligence officer vows to save Salwa and her children from Daniel.  Officer Mostapha (Kareem Abdelaziz) could be seen as an Egyptian Jack Bauer – instead of fighting off America’s “terrorists” – he’s seen saving Salwa from what he calls Egypt’s most-wanted.  Israelis are seen as the villains in this movie – a different perspective from this part of the world as compared to the current popular Western depiction of Arabs/Muslims as villains.

Director Sherif Arafa’s latest film succeeds not only in showing the complex relationship between Israel and Egypt (here, as defined by Daniel and Mostapha), which can be seen as Abraham’s sons Ismael and Isaac as symbolically referenced in the title, but shows the world the emerging acting and directing talent of Egyptian cinema from that of other international films.

Actors Sherif Mounir and Kareem Abdelaziz attended the first showing at Loews in Jersey City on Sunday afternoon, the day Egypt won the African cup.  Right before the packed house entered the theatre, they took photos with their favorite Egyptian actors as cars honked, Egyptian flags flew out of car windows, and men played the tabla on the sidewalk, and fans picked up Abdelaziz on their shoulders cheering for Egypt – the same patriotic nationalistic rejoicing that continued even after the film was done.

Here's the YouTube trailer:

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International coffeehouse chain Starbucks spoke out on allegations of financial support or political support to Israel on its website on 16 January following worldwide boycotts of its products and stores that apparently impacted them financially. One fact no longer included on Starbucks’ accolades page is that its CEO Howard Schultz was once awarded the "The Israel 50th Anniversary Tribute Award" from the Jerusalem Fund of Aish Ha-Torah in 1998 for “playing a key role in promoting a close alliance between the United States and Israel.” Starbucks maintained that it is a nonpolitical organization on its website. They stated on their website: “It is disheartening that calls for boycotts of Starbucks stores and products, which are based on blatant untruths, have had direct impacts on local economies and residents, and have also led to violent situations involving our stores, partners (employees) and customers. “Our more than 160,000 partners and business associates around the globe have diverse views about a wide range of topics. Regardless of that spectrum of belief, Starbucks Coffee Company remains a non-political organization. We do not support any political or religious cause. Further, allegations that Starbucks provides financial support to the Israeli government and/or the Israeli Army in any way are unequivocally false. Unfortunately, these rumors persist despite our best efforts to refute them. “What we do believe in, and remain focused on, is staying true to our company’s long-standing heritage -- simply connecting with our partners and customers over a cup of high quality coffee and offering the best experience possible to them – regardless of geographical location. Though our roots are in the United States, we are a global co... [Read More]

The Obama-Biden Presidential Transition team has set up a number of questions for Americans to answer on their website, Change.gov. One of them includes whether America should reevaluate its aid to Israel that they posted on January 12. "Reevaluate whether the level of and the basis for the aid we provide Israel is appropriate given our tough economic circumstance. Presently I fail to see the benefits to our country that would justify the extraordinarily high per-capita level of aid," it states under the category "Re-evaluate aid to Israel". What are your thoughts? Should it be reevaluated given America's tough economic situation? If so, why? If not, why not? http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004lmt&srPos=1&srKp=087&srS=1

Irish rock band U2’s main vocalist Bono reminded Americans that Palestinians too have a dream during his “In the Name of Love” song tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. at President-Elect Barack Obama’s Sunday Inaugural Celebration concert at the Lincoln Memorial. “This is not just an American dream,” Bono said. "Also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream … an Israeli dream ... (delayed response) and also a Palestinian dream." (See minute 3:40) The crowd then cheered. The camera later then panned to President-Elect Obama who some on Twitter thought donned a not-so pleasant facial expression in response. But, that might seem farfetched since President-Elect Obama seemed to be listening to the song. Bono’s statement was seen by some as the only contentious-seeming statement during the star-studded celebration. Why though? What are your thoughts?

ABC News’ N.J. Burkett twittered that all of his stories since Thursday have been preempted by the Hudson River plane crash in Manhattan.

“The plane crash has pre-empted all of my stories since Thursday. Making plans to leave Israel for NYC,” he twittered 10 hours ago.

ABC News reports that the New Jersey native is the only local reporter on the Gaza-Egypt border covering the crisis.

Shortly after Palestinian widowed father, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish was playing with his son following a Friday afternoon lunch his eldest 20-year old daughter Bisan prepared over a kerosene stove, an Israeli shell hit and killed Bisan, his two other daughters and their cousins in the girls’ bedroom, reported the Chicago Tribune. Their other cousin injured her eye. “I believe in saving lives, not killing," reportedly said Dr. Abuelaish. “My children should be the last price, the victims of peace and a cease-fire.” Dr. Abuelaish who worked as a gynaecologist in an Israeli hospital was scheduled for a phone interview on Israel TV 10. He called correspondent Shlomi Eldar before the scheduled interview screaming with tears of anguish which the channel broadcast live. One of his daughters, Bisan was a business and finance major and senior at Gaza’s Islamic University who participated in an initiative that promoted understanding among Israeli and Palestinian teenage girls in New Mexico, her father reportedly said. “They killed their dreams,” said Dr. Abuelaish. It has been 22 days since the start of Israel's Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza and 1,155 Palestinians including 370 children and 85 women have been killed along with nine Israeli soldiers and [Read More]

ABC News’ N.J. Burkett has been twittering his reports on Gaza and posting some photos of his experiences on Flickr through the Eyewitness News Photo stream. Since Israel is not allowing international journalists from entering the conflict zone, the New Jersey native has been reporting from the Gaza-Egypt border. ABC News is saying Burkett is the only local reporter there.

His latest Tweet: Just filed the report for EWN at 5PM. Seeing the Palestinian civilians in the hospitals has been very moving. Doctors moved to tears.

Here are some of his reports.

For more coverage on who is covering Gaza, click here.