Egyptian Military Analyst General (Ret.) Samir Farag: Despite the Peace Accords, Israel Is Still Egypt’s Main Enemy

Egyptian military analyst General (ret.) Samir Farag said on a February 18, 2024 show on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) that the “Israeli enemy” is still the strategic enemy of Egypt. He said that the peace accords were signed during the military disengagement between Egypt and Israel, but in reality, there are no relations between the two countries. Farag explained that there are no Egyptian delegations going to Israel, no trade agreements being signed, no Egyptian Coptic Christians going on pilgrimage to Israel. He continued to say that even former Israeli PM Menachem Begin said that Israel gave up land but did not get anything in return.

Samir Farag: "The Israeli enemy is still the [strategic] enemy of Egypt."

Interviewer: "Why does Israel still constitute the strategic enemy of Egypt, despite the peace accords between the two countries?"

Farag: "These peace accords were signed under the circumstances of the military disengagement between Egypt and Israel. What did the peace accords achieve? Do you see delegations from Egypt going to Israel on a daily basis, like it is with the other Arab countries? You do not. Are trade agreements being signed between Egypt and Israel? No. Do Egyptian Copts go to the holy places in Jerusalem? No. There are no relations, and I believe that Israel has acknowledged that. Menachem Begin said: 'We signed a piece of paper, and you took the land. We did not get anything.'

"Indeed, ask anyone in Egypt who is their main enemy, and they will tell you that it is Israel. In October, I gave lectures at all the universities in Egypt – to mark the 50th anniversary for the October [1973] war. Beginning on October 9 or 10, when I would enter the universities in Asyut, Sohag, Mansoura, or anywhere, all the students were wearing the Palestinian Keffiyeh. The Israeli enemy is still Egypt's main enemy."