Additional piece: Border tensions between Israel and Egypt: An Unsettled Peace
The shooting of three Israeli soldiers by an Egyptian security official at the Israel-Egypt border marks the worst incident in more than a decade. The incident has brought to the forefront the tensions simmering below the surface between the two countries. While Israel and Egypt have diplomatic ties, their relationship is fraught with complexities, and the border has been a site of intermittent conflict, smuggling, and incursions by militants for decades. This article explores the history of the border conflict, the drivers of the tensions, and the implications for the two countries and the wider region.
A History of Conflict and Peace
The border between Israel and Egypt stretches over 250 km and has seen several wars and peace agreements. Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1979, following the Camp David Accords brokered by the US. The agreement involved the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Sinai Peninsula, which had been captured in the 1967 Six-Day War, and the establishment of diplomatic and economic ties. However, the treaty did not resolve all the issues between the two countries, and it left Egypt with a difficult balancing act between its obligations to Israel and its pan-Arab identity.
Since the treaty, the border has been relatively quiet, but there have been several flare-ups, including Israeli military operations against militants, smuggling of weapons and drugs, and occasional violence by Bedouin tribes and local militants. The border was sealed during the 2011 Egyptian revolution, and Israel has built a fence and deployed thousands of troops to prevent illegal crossings.
The most significant escalation occurred during the Arab Spring in 2011, when militants attacked an Israeli bus and several military posts, killing eight people. Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza, where the militants were believed to have come from. In 2015, the Egyptian military launched a major operation against militants in the Sinai peninsula, where several groups affiliated with ISIS were active, leading to a crackdown on smuggling and radicalization.
Drivers of the Tensions
The recent shooting of the Israeli soldiers has brought to the forefront the underlying tensions between Israel and Egypt, which are rooted in several factors. One of the main drivers is the geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa, which is characterized by complex alliances, ideological divides, and regional rivalries. Egypt, for instance, is a member of the Arab League, which has traditionally aligned itself with the Palestinian cause and opposes Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. However, in recent years, some Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have been fostering covert ties with Israel, partly to counterbalance Iran’s influence in the region.
Another factor is the domestic politics of the two countries, which are shaped by different narratives, interests, and priorities. In Egypt, the government’s legitimacy is based on its stability and security, which are threatened by the rise of jihadist groups and the protests against President Sisi’s authoritarian rule. As a result, Egypt has adopted a tough stance on security and border control, which has sometimes led to tensions with Israel, especially over the use of force and the treatment of Palestinians.
In Israel, the border conflict with Egypt is part of the broader security challenges it faces, both internally and externally. Israel’s position on the border is strategic, as it is close to the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, which have been hotbeds of militant activity. Israel also views the border as a buffer zone against the smuggling of arms and drugs from Egypt, which could fuel violence and instability. Moreover, the border conflict has domestic implications, as it is a contentious issue in Israeli politics and society, with some calling for a more assertive approach and others for a negotiated settlement.
Implications for Israel, Egypt, and the Region
The shooting of the Israeli soldiers has raised concerns about the fragility of the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt and the potential for a wider conflict. Both countries have condemned the incident and pledged to cooperate in the investigation, but there are fears that the incident could trigger a cycle of retaliation and escalation, especially if militant groups take advantage of the situation. Israel has already retaliated by striking Hamas targets in Gaza, and some Egyptian officials have accused Israel of violating their sovereignty and using excessive force.
The incident also underscores the challenges facing Egypt’s efforts to combat terrorism and instability in the Sinai peninsula and the wider region. Egypt has been fighting a long and costly battle against militants, who have killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians and attacked tourist sites and infrastructure. While the Egyptian military has achieved some success in driving out the militants, they remain a persistent threat, and their ideology and networks extend beyond Egypt’s borders.
For Israel, the incident highlights the need for a comprehensive and sustainable security strategy that addresses the root causes of the conflict and builds trust with its neighbors. Israel has been criticized for its heavy-handed approach to security and its settlement policies in the West Bank and Gaza, which have undermined its credibility as a partner for peace. Israel needs to engage in dialogue and cooperation with the Arab countries, including Egypt, to find common ground and work towards a more stable and prosperous region.
Summary:
Three Israeli soldiers were killed by an Egyptian security official in the worst incident at the Israel-Egypt border in more than a decade. The incident has brought to the forefront the underlying tensions and complexities between the two countries, which are rooted in the geopolitics of the Middle East, the domestic politics of the two countries, and the security challenges they face. The shooting raises concerns about the fragility of the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt and the potential for escalation. The incident underscores the need for a comprehensive and sustainable security strategy that addresses the root causes of the conflict and builds trust with its neighbors.
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Three Israeli soldiers were shot dead by an Egyptian security official, Israeli and Egyptian authorities said on Saturday, in the worst incident at the country’s border in more than a decade.
Egypt was the first Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with Israel in 1979, and the border has been relatively quiet since a series of militant attacks in 2011 and 2012, although Israeli forces regularly operate in the area to thwart threats. smugglers.
According The Israeli armySaturday’s fighting began when the Egyptian policeman shot and killed two Israeli soldiers at a border military post in the Negev desert around 6:30 a.m. local time. Their bodies were found after they failed to respond to radio communications from a senior officer.
Israeli forces searched the area and located the assailant in Israeli territory around noon, the army said. A shootout ensued, in which a third Israeli soldier and the attacker were killed. Another Israeli soldier was injured.
The Egyptian military said one of its border guards crossed into Israel while pursuing drug traffickers, and in a subsequent firefight, three Israeli soldiers and the Egyptian border guard been killed. The army expressed its condolences to the families of those killed.
Israel said an investigation into the event was underway “in full cooperation with the Egyptian military” and that further research was underway to “exclude the presence of any additional assailants”.
“We had no intelligence warning about this event,” the Israeli military said.
“The cooperation with the Egyptians is continuing, that’s good. We talk to them all the time. It’s not geopolitical.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tension on Israel’s borders. Last month, his army engaged in a five-day firefight with Palestinian militants in Gaza. In April, he was involved in brief cross-border exchanges with activists in Gaza, southern Lebanon and Syria.
The Israeli military says it is possible that the first shooting on Saturday – in which a male and female Israeli soldier were killed – was linked to a failed attempt to smuggle drugs into Israel earlier in the morning .
The attempt was foiled around 2:30 a.m. local time – around four hours before the first shootings – and Israeli forces seized drugs worth around 1.5 million shekels ($400,000) .
Ten years ago, Israel built a fence along its border with Egypt in an attempt to prevent the arrival of migrants from Africa, as well as incursions by IS militants operating in the area. restive province of Sinai in Egypt.
The Israeli army said it was still trying to establish how the attacker crossed the border fence.
https://www.ft.com/content/704087ee-7cac-4e18-bf2f-20f6995d424a
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