By John Amaruso
In the wake of the so far successful ceasefire brokered by Egypt between Israel and Hamas, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has made an attempt to consolidate power for himself and the Muslim Brotherhood. His power grab comes mostly in the form of reductions in the power of the judicial branch, which many see as the only branch of government still ruled by civilians, as the executive and legislative branch's power are vested in the President.
The highest court in Egypt today called Morsi's attempts an "unprecedented assault" on civil liberties and the judicial system. Morsi has claimed the move comes in an attempt to secure the country after it's instability following the removal of former President Hosni Mubarak. President Morsi says this is a short term solution to maintain security until a new constitution can be drafted by the Parliament.
The timing of this comes when international praise for Morsi's mediation skills between Israel and Hamas has lent him considerable credibility. Meanwhile his attempts at oppression at home seeks to undermine his image as a conciliatory and pragmatic figure.
Demonstrations have erupted across the country, and many see this as a slippery slope towards the return of practices under the dictatorship of Mubarak.
