Egypt ‘categorically’ rejects invoking Sinai in Israeli finance minister’s remarks

Egypt “categorically” rejected Wednesday dragging the Sinai Peninsula into remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an informed source told Egypt’s state-run Middle East News Agency (MENA), Anadolu reports.

Responding to a query about Smotrich’s statements during the last two days, the source said Egypt “categorically” rejects any attempt to invoke Sinai in his remarks.

The source described the statements as “empty threats,” noting that they coincide with Egypt’s celebrations marking the 53rd anniversary of its victory in the October 1973 war.

The source said the statements “did not warrant any further assurances regarding Egypt’s ability to protect its territory and safeguard its independence against any threats.”

The source described Smotrich’s remarks concerning Sinai and the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip as “a transparent attempt to use inflammatory rhetoric for electoral purposes.”

“The international community is fully aware that the Israeli occupation bears responsibility for making living conditions in Gaza nearly impossible in an attempt to push residents to leave their homeland and bring the Palestinian cause to an end,” said the source.

Egypt has not and will not accept this, and will not participate in it, the source added.

The source stressed that Egypt rejects having its name drawn into political posturing and maintains its opposition to interference in the internal affairs of any country.

Smotrich said Monday that Egypt would lose the Sinai Peninsula if it attacked Israel.

“What would make Egypt not attack us? The understanding that if they attack us, there will be no Sinai at least,” he said in a video interview from his home.

His comments came on the eve of Egypt’s commemoration of the 1973 war, which paved the way for the eventual return of Sinai following years of Israeli occupation.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Monday that the Egyptian armed forces remained ready to defend the country, its resources and national security “at all times and under any circumstances.”

Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in Washington in March 1979 following the 1978 Camp David Accords. The treaty ended the state of war between the two countries and provided for Israel’s withdrawal from Sinai.