UAE-Israel peace deal causes Egyptians to reminisce about Arabs' lost opportunities for peace
Despite Egypt being the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, analysts in Egypt do not share President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's enthusiasm about the recent Emirati-Israeli peace deal. Some have denounced it as "a betrayal" of the Palestinian cause while others reminisce about Arabs' "lost opportunities" for peace.
Cairo has welcomed the US-brokered peace agreement that would fully normalize relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel in exchange for a suspension of Israeli annexation of West Bank land. In an official statement released Aug. 13, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called the tripartite deal “historic,” affirming that it would “advance peace efforts and open new horizons for stability in the Middle East.”
Sisi also expressed his support for the peace deal via his official Twitter account, highlighting Israel's promise to cease its planned annexation of Palestinian territory, without mentioning that the move may only be temporary or that the agreement makes no reference to the return of Palestinian land previously annexed by Israel.
“I followed with great interest and appreciation the tripartite joint statement by the United States, the UAE and Israel regarding the agreement to suspend annexation of Palestinian territories and to take steps that would bring peace to the Middle East,” he tweeted.
“I also appreciate the efforts to achieve prosperity and stability to our region by the signatories to this agreement,” Sisi added.
