Dalia Ziada, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, addressed the growing tension between Egypt and Israel.

“Military forces are standing on both sides of the Egyptian-Israeli border, aiming at each other, which indicates that the problem of mistrust between the parties has reached a boiling point,” she said. “I hope this doesn’t lead to further escalation in the coming years.”

Ziada sharply criticized the Egyptian government, which she says “has been on the wrong side of this war from the start,” and accused Cairo of supporting Hamas, “who has hurt the Palestinians more than anyone else.”

Ziada also referred to French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Egypt, claiming it is part of a power struggle between Europe and the United States in the Middle East.

“France is trying to emphasize that its presence and influence, and that of Europe in the Middle East, are still strong, unlike those of the United States – especially in light of Macron’s recent success in brokering a ceasefire in Lebanon,” she said.

She also emphasized the mutual economic interests of both countries, noting that “Egypt was ranked as the largest importer of French weapons between 2012 and 2021” and that “in 2021, Egypt signed a deal with France to purchase 30 French-made fighter jets for $4.5 billion.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)