On 18 February, an Israeli diplomat was ousted from the African Union Summit after member states fought against Israel's observer status in the body, showing African states are leading Palestine solidarity efforts as Arab states cosy up to Israel.
Sisi's pardon of one hundred political prisoners, including al-Jazeera journalists, is a gambit to appease the West and head-off criticism ahead of his visit to New York, argues Wael Kandil.
Following the 2011 revolution Wael Kandil was invited to meet leading army officers - but it became clear that any partnership between revolutionary activists and the army was an illusion.