Al-Sisi reveals his response to Netanyahu’s question about arming the army

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi revealed a direct question directed to him by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the reasons and repercussions of continuing to arm the Egyptian army and modernize its capabilities.

Al-Sisi said, during the graduation ceremony of a new batch of police academy students, Thursday morning, that during his meeting with Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister asked him directly, saying: Why are you arming yourself?

Pointing out that he answered him decisively and told him that he had never seen Israel's power as a threat, and that he also expected him to deal with it on the basis that Egypt's power was not a threat, stressing that Egypt lives in a turbulent region and needs power to maintain peace and regional stability.

The Egyptian President responded strongly to the allegations of an Israeli official who claimed that Egypt would not attack Israel, “for fear of Sinai, asking: Is it possible that after 50 years of peace, you are still thinking with the mentality that there is a party that may have undeclared ambitions or goals?”

The Egyptian President touched on other details in his direct meetings with Netanyahu since 2013, explaining that he was constantly keen to confirm that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is the primary key and the real opportunity to achieve comprehensive stability and the effective integration of Israel into the Middle East.

Al-Sisi said that the strategic concept is to build Egyptian military and police capabilities, stressing that possessing force comes within the framework of deterring threats and protecting peace gains.

Also yesterday, during the Armed Forces’ celebration of the 44th educational symposium on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the October victories, Sisi asked whether some circles in Israel have unjustified perceptions or concerns regarding the presence of Egyptian ambitions towards them, stressing that Egypt’s first and last goal is to preserve its security and stability and preserve the capabilities of its people.

He stressed that the peace treaty signed between Egypt and Israel represents a governing framework for relations between the two sides, reiterating Cairo's adherence to the two-state solution as the way to achieve just and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Sisi's statements came in response to what Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich said in which he warned that there would be no Sinai if Egypt attacked Israel.

These threats came during a video interview conducted by the Israeli minister from his home, ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Israel, in an attempt to exploit the Egyptian file as electoral propaganda for his political capital.

Egypt responded officially to these statements, as an informed source confirmed that these empty threats coincide with Egypt’s celebrations of the October victory, which negates the need for any assurances regarding the Egyptian state’s full ability to protect its lands and preserve its independence in the face of any dangers.

The source explained that the Israeli minister’s statements regarding Sinai and plans to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip represent an open and cheap attempt to use an empty, escalatory tone to achieve narrow electoral goals and objectives.

It is noteworthy that a peace treaty was signed in 1979 between Egypt and Israel, ending decades of direct military conflict and establishing the principle of peace based on the restoration of full national sovereignty over the land of Sinai.