Analysts weigh prospects of Egypt-Israel military exercises
Though some analysts believe joint Egyptian-Israeli military exercises won't actually take place given the Egyptian public's opposition to the idea, some Arab and Gulf countries seem to be advancing on a path toward normalization with Israel.
CAIRO — Egypt's rumored plan for a joint military exercise with Israel is raising a lot of criticism from opponents of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's regime.
Opposition website Egyrep.com published an article Oct. 8 that said, “Sisi breaks the armed forces’ doctrine with the first military exercise with Israel.” Al-Quds al-Arabi reported Oct. 6 that Sayyed al-Toukhi, a leader of the opposition Democratic Current Alliance, posted on Facebook that the military exercise with Israel “is a big shame on this president and all leaders who are of the same mind.”
It all started when Greece's Minister of National Defense Panos Kammenos told the press Oct. 1 that Greece is planning joint military exercises with Cyprus, Egypt and Israel.
No comment on a joint Egyptian-Israeli military exercise was posted on the official Facebook pages of the military spokesman of the armed forces or the Egyptian Defense Ministry. Nevertheless, speaking to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, a source close to Egypt's military establishment said, “The Egyptian military media is characterized by a high degree of transparency. The armed forces would never take part in such exercises, even if they were to be confidential, because such an event can’t be hidden. Military exercises are viewed as a major event involving the armed forces' equipment, weapons, soldiers, officers and commanders. It would be impossible for Egypt to pressure all these parties in four countries to keep such an exercise to themselves.”
