Foreign Affairs Committee Hears Testimony on NGO Crisis

This week saw hearings by the U.S. Congress on the investigation by Egypt’s judiciary into foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations operating in Egypt. On Monday, Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY) told the  House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Middle East “our bilateral relations could suffer permanent damage.” Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH) urged Egyptian officials to end the charges on American employees of U.S.-funded NGOs, and said failure to do so “will necessitate a reconsideration of US assistance.” Chabot called Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Abouel Naga the “chief agent provocateur,” while Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) said at the House Foreign Affairs committee hearing today that “no U.S. assistance should be provided to any ministry that is controlled by” Abouel Naga. Howard Berman (D-CA) urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton not to certify that Egypt can receive its $1.3 billion in military aid. Presidents of the NGOs under investigation also testified that they had done nothing illegal. International Republican Institute President Lorne Craner said that his indicted staff likely faces “trial with the possibility of prison time.” The NGO crackdown “represents a clear effort to block a democratic transition in Egypt,” said David Kramer, the president of Freedom House. A group of 29 Egyptian NGOs issued a statement yesterday calling the investigation “politically motivated.”

Writing for the Atlantic, Zvika Krieger explains how U.S. policymakers believe an end to U.S. military aid might affect Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel. Essam Al Erian, a leader and Member of Parliament in the Muslim Brotherhood, warned that the treaty was conditioned upon Egypt’s aid and “if there is a breach from one side it gives the right of review to the parties.” Krieger argues that some members of Congress think that Egyptian officials will back down from the NGO investigation, while others “seem ready to fundamentally reevaluate the entire U.S. relationship with Egypt.” Krieger adds that “withholding the aid wouldn’t guarantee the end of the treaty.” Adel  Al Adawy claims in Bikya Masr the U.S. will not cut off military aid, saying, “the U.S. cannot afford to lose Egypt as a strategic partner.” For his part, Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. Sameh Shukri denied that the NGO crisis threatened the U.S.-Egypt relationship, and said “communications are being conducted at the highest levels to prevent any negative consequences.”