Behadrei HaredimPolitics19:30

Egyptian President Responds to Israeli Minister's Sinai Remarks

By יענקי פרבר

Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi responded to Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's comments about Sinai, stating Egypt has no territorial ambitions and only seeks to protect its borders. Smotrich had suggested that if Egypt attacked Israel, Sinai would be at risk. The remarks by Smotrich ignited strong criticism from Egyptian media and officials, including broadcaster Ahmed Moussa and MP Mostafa Bakri, who issued warnings to Israel. The exchange occurs as Egypt marks the 53rd anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.

The story in 4 lines · by baba

Egyptian President Sisi denied territorial ambitions toward Israel in response to Finance Minister Smotrich.
Smotrich suggested Sinai would be at risk if Egypt attacked Israel.
Egyptian media figures and officials issued strong warnings to Israel following Smotrich's remarks.
The exchange occurred during Egypt's commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.

Egyptian President Responds to Israeli Minister's Sinai Remarks — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has responded to comments made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding the Sinai Peninsula. Sisi questioned whether any Israeli factions hold baseless beliefs that Egypt has territorial ambitions toward Israel, emphasizing that his country acts solely to protect its borders and national security within a framework of peace. "Egypt waged war to defend its territory and reclaimed all its lands," the Egyptian president stated, adding that Egypt has no hidden agendas and its leadership's priority is to preserve the security, stability, and resources of the Egyptian people without intentions of expansion or conflict.

Sisi's remarks came after Smotrich stated in an interview discussing future security threats to Israel and the regional deterrence balance, "The understanding is that if they attack us, there will be no Sinai, at least." These comments sparked sharp reactions in Egyptian media, prompting the president's response.

Smotrich's statement that "at the very least, there will be no Sinai" if Egypt attacked Israel drew angry responses from media figures and parliament members close to the Egyptian government. Egyptian broadcaster Ahmed Moussa warned on his program, "If you act recklessly, Israel will not remain, the matter is over, the Zionist entity will not remain." Moussa also noted that the price of war is known and had been paid before, emphasizing that Sinai is a red line and what happened in 1967 will not be repeated.

Concurrently, Egyptian Member of Parliament and media figure Mostafa Bakri attacked Smotrich on X, calling him an "extreme Zionist" threatening Egypt with occupation of Sinai and a "dangerous thug who thinks Egypt is no man's land." Bakri added that the Egyptian army is prepared to defeat anyone who harms its national security. These statements coincide with Egypt's commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, locally viewed as the "October Victory."