Smotrich: Not Convinced of Egyptian Intentions to Avoid War with Israel
Israeli Finance Minister questions Egypt's intentions and threatens the loss of Sinai.
Translated by Qiyas from القبس — Original source
Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, cast doubt on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s assurances that Cairo harbors no regional ambitions and does not seek war with Israel. Smotrich said he was uneasy about el-Sisi’s statements denying any Egyptian intent to wage war against Israel, adding that his country would ensure it is not attacked by Egypt if Cairo realizes, in his words, that “the next time they attack, there will be no Sinai.”
Smotrich’s remarks follow a controversy sparked by his previous comments about the Sinai Peninsula, in which he stated in an interview that Egypt would lose Sinai if it attacked Israel. His statements drew a strong reaction from Egypt, which firmly rejected the inclusion of Sinai’s name in the Israeli minister’s remarks, describing them as “empty threats” aimed at achieving electoral goals, and affirming the state’s ability to protect its territory and independence.
Smotrich’s comments were not limited to Egypt; he also addressed the Gaza Strip, claiming that “the population has been educated to hate Israel” and calling for “dashing their hopes.” He also spoke about seizing land while keeping Gaza in its current status, gradually encouraging its residents to leave—positions that align with calls for the displacement of Palestinians, which Cairo rejects and views as a threat to the Palestinian cause and regional security.
Regarding Israeli military planning, Smotrich said that capacity-building should not be limited to developing means to confront Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, or Syria individually, but should require flexible capabilities to address multiple challenges. He also touched on what he described as diplomacy based on establishing relations with competing parties simultaneously, even while supporting each party in its relations with its adversaries.
The state-run Middle East News Agency quoted a well-informed source as saying that “Egypt firmly rejects the inclusion of Sinai’s name in the remarks made by the official in question.”
