Egypt is responsible for Israeli security

Below is the translation of the interview with Brigadier General Muhammad Farid Al-Tuhami.

Presenter: >If we go to the Egyptian American relations I must brief you on what the head of Egyptian General Intelligence Department Brigadier General Muhammad Farid Al-Tuhami has said. He stressed that there has been no change in the intelligence relations between Egyptian and American intelligence apparatuses despite Washington’s decision to rely supplying Egypt with some weapons and the widespread (media) discussion of the existence of new military communications between Egypt and Russia. In a statement given to the American writer David Ignatius and published in the American Washington Post newspaper, he said that cooperation between the Egyptian and American intelligences apparatuses takes place via a completely different channel from the political one.

Let us try and understand the implications of this within the context of the visit (by Al-Tuhami) and within the context of Kerry’s surprise visit and why the military establishment in Egypt, with all its wings, insists that all its channels with its counterpart (in the USA) remain open and that it stays away from the political context. (We shall hear the explanation) from Brigadier General Muhammad Rashad, former deputy head of the Intelligence Department.

Your excellency, this statement (published) in the Washington Post comes at a time that warrants posing the question: The Russians are in Egypt and prior to that a high level Russian intelligence delegation was visiting (Egypt) and that disturbed the American political establishment. In the meantime, the (Egyptian) military establishment with all its wings maintains that its relations throughout the time have been good with its counterparts in the U.S. Administration and that it stays away from the political scene? So, Mr. Brigadier General!

Brigadier General: Let first talk about terrorism. Terrorism is not bound by a homeland or by borders. Even with relations among nations become tense, terrorism remains the common denominator among them. Of course, it is well known that the United States is the main target of terrorism throughout the world because it is responsible for the absence of international justice across the globe. As for the Egyptian U.S. relations, there is no problem (whatsoever) in the Egyptian U.S. relations because Egypt undertakes a principal role in fighting terrorism in the Middle East and Egypt undertakes to play a principle role in providing security for the Suez Canal. Also, Egypt is responsible for Israel’s security, and therefore the Egyptian U.S. relations ….

Presenter: Egypt is responsible for Israel’s security? Tell me how Sir?

Brigadier General: Yes, Madam?

Presenter: You are saying that Egypt is responsible for Israel’s security?

Brigadier General: Yes, Egypt is responsible because we are bound by the Camp David (Accords) and American is keen to preserve this agreement ….

Presenter: That would mean that we are responsible for maintaining certain levels of security internally within Egypt and along the borders, but how am I to be responsible for Israel’s security?

Brigadier General: I cannot hear you. Could you speak up a little?

Presenter: I ask for your permission, let us go back to what the Washington Post has published.

Brigadier General: Please do.

Presenter: I have asked you about your opinion regarding this statement by the Head of Egyptian Intelligence at a time when the Russians are in Cairo. Can we deduce a certain meaning or what? Are these different channels?

Brigadier General: They are completely different channels. Relations in the field of combating terrorism continue to exist among nations even when political relations among them become tense. (This is) because terrorism has no homeland and no boundaries. And therefore, it continues to be a field of cooperation among all nations. The United States, through its Intelligence Department, leads the information network about terrorism throughout the globe. Therefore, the statement made by the head of (Egyptian) intelligence (refers to) a well known and clear field of cooperation in fighting terrorism that is not affected by any tension that may exist in (political) relations.

Presenter: Thank you