The Egyptian retired general Sameh Saif Al-Yazal Cairo – Akram Ali The Egyptian retired general Sameh Saif Al-Yazal, Director of Egyptian Institute for Strategic Studies, said that the Egyptian army protected January 25 revolution, as it did not fire at the protesters neither in Tahrir nor elsewhere.    Al-Yazal added, in an interview with ‘Arabstoday’, that the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) paved the path for real a democratic process in Egypt, for the first time since decades, by the referendum on the constitution in March, in addition to carrying neutral and fair parliamentary elections with judicial supervision.   Regarding the cessation of the emergency law, Al-Yazal said “most political activists cannot differentiate between the ‘Military Law’ and the emergency law, which is a civil law and applies for all, while the ‘Military Law’ doesn’t apply for everyone, but is needed in some cases, such as [in dealing with] thugs.” He also stressed the needs for activating the emergency law at the current time in Egypt for security purposes. Al-Yazal commented on the Maspero violent incidents, in which clashes occurred between military forces and Coptic protesters near the Egyptian Radio and TV building, saying that SCAF should issue a statement to announce that they will ‘firmly’ confront any attacks against their soldiers. Al-Yazal praised the Egyptian swap deal with Israel, in which Egypt freed the US-Israeli citizen Ilan Grapel who was detained in June on spying charges, pointing out that it was successful and included some confidential terms related to the Egyptian National Security, in addition to releasing 25 Egyptian prisoners from Israel. The security expert warned of the current security situation in Sinai, explaining that Sinai witnessed several bombings since the revolution. Al-Yazal stressed the need to secure this region to avoid more bombing of gas pipeline, as this pipeline supplies gas to Jordan, and the Egyptian gas is the main source of energy for Jordanians.    Regarding the possibility of holding a military funeral for the former Egypt’s President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, Al-Yazal said “it would be possible to make a military funeral for Mubarak if he was not in custody,” confirming that the army will never make a military funeral for Mubarak he was proven guilty of his charges. Al-Yazal assured that the Egyptian army wants to end this critical phase and handover the power to civilians, pointing out that the SCAF does not make unilateral decisions, as it always holds meetings with all political parties and movements.