Egypt steers clear ...
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Yet, history suggests otherwise. No such clash has taken place in the past, even when provocations were more severe — such as the assassinations carried out in the Sinai even during the Hosni Mubarak era, in which Israel was believed to have backed various groups. Israel frequently carries out such provocations depending on its political goals, behaving as though everything is permitted, regardless of the United Nations, the international community, public opinion, or bilateral relations.
Israel routinely tramples over UN resolutions. Only recently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would press ahead with its operations in Gaza, despite widespread international opposition. He has consistently turned a deaf ear to pressure to reconsider his approach. The United States, for its part, continues to support Israel so long as Washington’s interests are not harmed. Even during verbal clashes between US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu, the vital air bridge for transferring weapons and equipment to Israel was never cut.
In this environment, Egypt relies above all on diplomacy to defend its interests. Diplomacy is a crucial instrument for Cairo because it is aware of its own vulnerabilities. Any small misstep could be exploited by Israel to its advantage. A telling example came when Trump declared that if Egypt agreed to relocate Gaza residents to the Sinai, Washington would reward Cairo by blocking Ethiopia’s use of the dam on the Nile. This clearly showed that Israel and the US knew Egypt’s Achilles’ heel: without the Nile, the country would face famine and a host of other crises. Egypt, however, rejected the proposal and navigated the situation diplomatically, without making a fuss.
As for Tel Aviv’s expansionist ambitions — such as talk of a Greater Israel — these pose a threat not only to Egypt’s national security but also to that of the entire region. Yet, because of its commitment to the peace treaty, Cairo maintains a relatively strong position and has never given Israel an excuse to break that accord. While the treaty may not enjoy full approval among Egyptians, who remain strongly anti-Israel and anti-American, Egypt continues to conduct its policy through diplomatic means. War has never been its preferred option, nor is it today.