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| Africa North | |
| Egypt's dangerous pressure game against Israel - opinion | |
| 2026-04-28 | |
| [Jpost] Egypt under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has continued over the past year, and especially in recent days, to play a troubling double game in its relationship with Israel. Despite the 1979 peace treaty, Cairo has repeatedly acted against Israeli interests. It has taken positions that were perceived in Israel and the Gulf as overly soft toward Iran, sharply opposed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, and attempted to insert itself into negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. Now, it has staged provocative military exercises near Israel’s border. All Arab strongmen suffer from short memory. These moves are unfolding as Egypt faces severe economic pressure. The country is struggling with heavy debt, external financing needs, and the economic fallout from regional instability. Attacks from Yemen, the war with Iran, and tensions in the Red Sea have harmed shipping traffic and Suez Canal revenues, dealing Cairo another serious blow. When the war involving the US, Israel, and Iran erupted, Egypt’s initial response was widely viewed as sympathetic toward Tehran. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concern" over the military escalation, while al-Sisi avoided condemning Iran by name. That approach angered Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, which expected more from Egypt than a cautious statement. They expected assistance, or at least Egyptian air patrols over the Gulf to help deter Iran. That did not happen. The Gulf states are disappointed in Egypt, and they have good reason. And they're the ones who feed Egyptians through loans. EGYPT HAS VOICED CONCERN OVER THE DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN LEBANON AND ISRAEL Let us return to Egypt’s relationship with Israel. A few days ago, al-Sisi called Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and proposed that Lebanon hold indirect negotiations with Israel under Egyptian mediation in Sharm el-Sheikh rather than under US auspices. Egypt has voiced concern over the direct negotiations taking place between Lebanon and Israel. Egypt was the first Arab country to normalize relations with Israel. Cairo seems to believe that this gives it ownership over Israel’s peace process, or over anyone else seeking peace with Israel. Fortunately, Aoun rejected the proposal. In December 2025, when Israel officially recognized Somaliland as a sovereign state, becoming the first country in the world to do so, Cairo reacted harshly. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry called the move a flagrant violation of international law and an infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty. Al-Sisi coordinated with Turkey, Djibouti, and Somalia, and helped lead a joint statement by Arab and Islamic countries against the recognition. ...The most provocative move is taking place now. The Egyptian military has begun large-scale live-fire exercises very close to the Israeli border, reportedly around 100 meters from the fence. The drills were technically approved by the IDF, but they have sparked anger among residents of the Gaza border area and southern Israel. The exercises include live fire across wide areas, and residents have reported serious security concerns. Local security officials warned that such activity could create dangerous norms. Some residents even compared the situation to warning signs that preceded the October 7 massacre. These exercises come amid an accelerated Egyptian military buildup in Sinai, including the deployment of large forces, tanks, and air defense systems. Israel has increasingly viewed some of these moves as a gradual erosion of the understandings that underpin the Camp David framework. Third time ice-cream
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| Posted by:Grom the Affective |
| #2 |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2026-04-28 07:24 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2026-04-28 07:20 |