With US disengagement from the Middle East peace process, Egypt — under the new Abdel Fattah al-Sisi administration — could emerge as an important facilitator of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. In the aftermath of the Gaza war, Cairo, which is reshaping its strategic leadership role in the region, may be open to advancing a regional peace strategy on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative. This is an opportunity for Israel to coordinate with Egypt a balanced two-state solution together with the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Yet, nothing moves slower than policy changes in Egypt in between revolutions. A Cairo policy expert warned me, "The fact that you don't see change in policy does not mean that it is not happening."
