Sisi

This is their fourth round of talks aimed at strengthening security, economic, trade and investment cooperation.

French officials dismiss this and say Paris is following a policy of not openly criticizing countries over human rights so as to be more effective in private on a case by case basis.

The detainees could be used as a bargaining chip if the government comes under pressure from the new US administration, a human-rights official said.

Sisi warned last week that Egypt would not stand idle if there was a threat to national security in Egypt and its western neighbor, Libya.

Egyptian media said lawmakers would discuss Libya and that they might give Sisi a mandate to intervene in the conflict.

There were once direct El Al flights to Cairo, but they were canceled in 2012 after the Arab Spring protests.

Sisi came to power after leading the overthrow of Islamist former President Mohamed Mursi in 2013 following mass protests against Mursi's rule.

The military’s economic might has expanded since Sisi became president, and companies owned by the military have flourished, causing concern amongst local businessmen and foreign investors.

In November 2016, an agreement was signed between the IMF and Egypt providing for a $12 billion loan to be delivered in five steps in the course of three years.