Sisi-Bennett assembly opens new chapter in Israel-Egypt ties

CAIRO — On Sept. 13, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett within the Egyptian metropolis of Sharm el-Sheikh.

This was the primary public go to by an Israeli prime minister to Egypt in over a decade. Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had met the late Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Since then, Netanyahu had not visited Cairo formally once more — however Sisi just lately invited Bennett to go to Egypt.

Egyptian and Israeli officers and analysts imagine Bennett’s go to is a mirrored image of extra public rapprochement between the 2 nations, which could pave the way in which for reviving the Center East peace course of.

The Egyptian presidency printed a video from the assembly through which the 2 leaders smiled and greeted one another. The Israeli flag was positioned behind Bennett as he sat throughout from Sisi for a photograph op.

Former Egyptian assistant international minister Rakha Hassan advised Al-Monitor that the assembly was a “nice service by the Egyptians” to Bennett because it strengthened his political energy in Israel. He referred to Netanyahu’s request to go to Egypt, which was by no means answered.

The 2 leaders mentioned methods to spice up bilateral relations in numerous fields, in addition to the most recent regional developments, particularly the Palestinian trigger, Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Radi stated in an announcement on Fb.

“Egypt helps all efforts to attain a complete peace within the Center East, primarily based on the two-state answer,” Sisi stated throughout the assembly.

Sisi later stated that he spoke with Bennett with “utmost honesty and braveness,” including, “Egypt at all times strives for peace, stability, improvement, and reconstruction, and steering away from any type of conflicts.”

Bennett, for his half, stated that he had an “vital and excellent assembly” with Sisi, through which the 2 leaders “laid the muse for deep ties transferring ahead.”

He added, “After greater than 4 a long time, the peace settlement between Israel and Egypt continues to function a cornerstone in Center East safety and stability.”

Bennett additionally praised the numerous position that Egypt performs in sustaining safety within the Gaza Strip, in addition to in serving to safe the discharge of Israeli civilians and the our bodies of two Israeli troopers held by Hamas.

Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 after a long time of battle, and the 2 nations keep full diplomatic relations. But their ties are nonetheless seen as a “chilly peace.”

Tarek Fahmy, a lecturer at Nasser Increased Army Academy, and an skilled in Israeli affairs advised Al-Monitor that the go to is a pivotal improvement in Egyptian-Israeli relations.

Nimrod Goren, president and founding father of Mitvim, the Israeli Institute for Regional International Insurance policies, advised Al-Monitor that the assembly between the Egyptian and Israeli leaders confirmed that underneath the brand new Israeli authorities, relations between the 2 nations are more likely to strengthen, and maybe even be expanded to incorporate new features of financial and civilian cooperation.

Previous to the assembly, Israeli Minister of Transport Merav Michaeli announced that the Egyptian state-owned EgyptAir will begin working direct flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv in early October; there can be four direct flights per week between Ben Gurion Airport and Cairo Airport. 

On Sept. 13, Israel restored full operations on the Taba crossing with Sinai, an entry level for Israeli vacationers, whereas lifting restrictions imposed throughout the pandemic.

In a tweet on Sept. 13, Israeli ambassador to Cairo Amira Oron described Bennett’s visit as historic, contemplating it an vital step in increasing mutual commerce between Israel and Egypt.

“Current steps [taken by Israel] are indications for constructive progress,” Goren stated. “The truth that the assembly befell in Egypt and that it was made public conveyed a constructive [message] to the Israeli political system and most of the people. It additionally mirrored the regional legitimacy that Bennett is receiving as a pacesetter, regardless of main a right-wing get together and regardless of preliminary concern within the Arab world about him being Israel’s prime minister.”

Nevertheless, Hassan stated that the assembly was extra in regards to the latest Egyptian strikes on the Palestinian aspect than bilateral cooperation between Cairo and Tel Aviv.

On Could 20, Egypt mediated between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire after an 11-day battle between the 2 events within the Gaza Strip. It is usually engaged in efforts to rebuild Gaza and is mediating between Israel and Hamas on a long-term cease-fire and a prisoner trade.

Hassan added, “The assembly additionally got here to check Israel’s place on resuming negotiations primarily based on the two-state answer, as Cairo believes that the present circumstances require rushing up the decision of the Palestinian trigger.”

However Cairo’s precedence now’s to succeed in a everlasting cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, and provoke the reconstruction course of in Gaza earlier than winter, he famous.

For his half, Fahmy stated, “Egypt did Bennett a favor by internet hosting him, making him and his authorities extra well-liked in Israel, to induce him to interact in actual negotiations with the Palestinians.”

He added that Egypt believes Bennett’s authorities is powerful and dealing with it is a vital alternative to renew mediation efforts.

In Could, Egyptian International Minister Sameh Shoukry hinted that Cairo would possibly host a negotiation spherical between the Israelis and Palestinians sooner or later.

In the meantime, Fahmy pressured that Cairo remains to be reconsidering internet hosting the negotiation spherical, “however the motion it took right this moment is vital,” in reference to the assembly.

Goren famous that launching an Israeli-Palestinian peace course of within the conventional format of direct negotiations towards a final-status settlement doesn’t appear to be possible in the intervening time.

“Nevertheless, Egypt may play an vital position in deepening and increasing Israeli-Palestinian engagement, together with by way of selling sensible cooperation between the edges and internet hosting a regional summit to which Bennett and Abbas can be invited,” Goren stated. “Egypt ought to proceed advocating for the two-state answer — additionally along with different worldwide actors, working for intra-Palestinian unity, and mediating to scale back tensions in Gaza.” 

Goren went on to say, “Towards the twentieth anniversary of the Arab Peace Initiative in early 2022, it [Egypt] may additionally work with Saudi Arabia to current a revised model of the initiative, which can carry it [the initiative] up-to-date with regional developments that befell over the past twenty years.”

Nevertheless, Hassan stated that Bennett is not going to acknowledge the institution of a Palestinian state, as he believes that it poses an ideal hazard to Israel. So negotiations could resume simply to ease the punitive measures towards the Palestinian individuals with out resolving the essence of the battle, he added.

Hassan identified that the US administration’s place stays a decisive issue on this difficulty, as Cairo can also be counting on US strain on Israel to dissuade it from its hardline positions.

Hassan identified that Sisi and US President Joe Biden may meet on the sidelines of the UN Normal Meeting conferences this month, and the problem could also be raised at the moment. “So long as the Palestinian trigger isn’t resolved, peace will stay chilly between Egypt and Israel, particularly on the well-liked stage,” he concluded.