Sisi recounted a previous dialogue with Netanyahu about the reasons for Egypt’s armament, stressing that possessing strength was intended to preserve peace in a troubled region. He made the remarks during an iftar attended by senior state officials and media figures, on the sidelines of the Police Academy’s graduation day celebrations.
He knows that Egypt will not pose a threat to Israel. He once asked me: Why are you arming yourselves? I told him: We are in a troubled region and need to be strong in order to preserve peace, not only with Israel but with the entire region.
Sisi links a Palestinian state to regional peace
He said he had stressed in all his meetings and contacts with Netanyahu since 2014 that establishing a Palestinian state would benefit everyone, bring lasting peace and stability, and enable Israel’s genuine integration into the region. Speaking about Netanyahu’s position, he added: “But he was not convinced, and he is responsible for his country.”
Regarding Iran, Sisi said Egypt had sought, despite having no relations with it, to avoid fighting between Iran, Israel and the United States. He warned that “the geopolitical changes in the region are major and profound, and consequences for the region will follow”. Sisi stressed the interconnectedness of Egyptian and Saudi national security and the security of the Arab Gulf states, affirming that targeting Saudi Arabia affects Arab and Egyptian national security.
He said: “Egypt will not accept any threat to the security of the Kingdom or its borders, and likewise rejects any threat to the security of the Red Sea and international shipping lanes.”
He added that Egypt’s concern was the security of the Kingdom and ensuring it was not threatened, alongside its stability and de-escalation, reaffirming that the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states is linked to Egyptian and Arab national security.
