US moves to broker a meeting between Egypt and Israel

The American news website Axios reported on Sunday that the White House is ready to broker a summit between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

An American official and an informed Israeli source told Axios that Netanyahu and Sisi have not spoken since before the Gaza war.

However, American officials said any meeting would depend on Netanyahu agreeing to a strategic gas deal with Egypt, as well as taking additional steps to convince Sisi to meet him.

The US initiative aims to improve relations between Israel and Arab states through what American officials describe as “economic diplomacy”.

“This is a huge opportunity for Israel. Selling gas to Egypt will create interdependence, get the countries closer together, create a warmer peace and prevent war,” Axios cited a US source as saying.

The United States is also considering similar initiatives offering economic incentives in technology and energy with countries including Lebanon, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.

The wider goal is to end Israel’s diplomatic isolation, establish a new model for Israel engaging with the Arab world, and get the Abraham Accords back on track, while supporting efforts to stabilise the ceasefire in Gaza, Axios reported.