What’s Happening
Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, criticized Egypt’s President, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, during a Zoom call with major American Jewish organizations, accusing him of profiting from Palestinian desperation and aiding Hamas. Amidst ongoing conflicts, this assessment brings spotlight on Egypt’s role in current regional dynamics.
Why It Matters
Since the October 2023 escalation, where Hamas intensified conflict with Israel, diplomatic channels have been essential. Egypt, traditionally a mediator in these affairs, now faces accusations of violating the 1979 US-brokered peace deal with Israel and misleading in its support toward combatting Hamas terrorism. This confrontation could instigate significant shifts in Middle East peace processes.
The Bigger Picture
Ambassador Leiter’s remarks come at a delicate time for Israel, seeking to reinforce strategic alliances with Egypt despite contentious peace dynamics. Leveraging US influence, Leiter underscores the urgency to address Egypt’s alleged military build-ups in Sinai, which Israel perceives as an infringement on sovereign peace agreements. With US facilitation, Israel aims to highlight adherence to peace norms while exposing any antagonistic regional tactics that could affect their short- and long-term security and geopolitical stabilization.
Egypt’s Mixed Role
Leiter claims Egypt negotiates from “both sides” by linking its strategies with Hamas while espousing patriotic messages domestically. Despite historic Egypt-Hamas Brotherhood tensions, Israel insists that eradicating Hamas terror will eventually incentivize collaborative peace governance after conflict resolution. This posture, however, needs international endorsement from Arab states involved in facilitating post-Hamas scenarios.
Looking Forward
While preceding agreements, like those suggested with the Palestinian Authority and neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE, seemed plausible, realization rests on mutual political flexibility. Israel underscores maintaining supremacy over national narratives and territories, advocating settlement security as indicative identifiers of historical succession — emphasizing how Judea and Samaria’s Jewish migratory backdrop legitimizes their strategic ownership principles.
Enhancing Diplomatic Potential
Leiter curtails future agreements contingent upon regional cooperation and acknowledges current geopolitical constraints magnanimously aligned to Republican US governance approaches focusing on tactical settlement normalization. To catalyze overtures with countries like Saudi Arabia, invigorated bipartisan support becomes critical where such heritage nuances reflect necessary evaluative frameworks: regional negativity shall be subdued; emphasis stays poised toward collective existential three-dimensional peacemaking fundamentals free from mercenary opportunities.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.