Egypt Threatens to Void Decades-Old Peace Treaty with Israel
Egyptian officials, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, stated that Egypt may suspend the peace treaty if Israeli troops enter Rafah.
A man stands on the entrance of a makeshift tent during the cold weather as Palestinians, who left their homes, take shelter in the city of Rafah to protect themselves from Israeli bombardment in Rafah, Gaza on January 27, 2024. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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gypt has issued a threat to nullify its long-standing peace treaty with Israel, which kept the two countries from war for decades. The warning comes in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration of intent to send troops into Rafah, a city in Gaza near the Egyptian border.
The peace treaty, forged in 1979 at Camp David, marked a historic moment as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, with the mediation of U.S. President Jimmy Carter, shook hands, bringing an end to decades of hostilities.
Under the Camp David Accords, Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula, which Egypt would maintain as a demilitarized zone. The treaty facilitated diplomatic relations, allowing Israeli ships passage through the Suez Canal, a vital trade route.
Current threat to the treaty:
The potential unraveling of the peace treaty stems from the genocide in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s vow to send troops into Rafah, which he identifies as Hamas’ last stronghold, has drawn strong opposition from Egypt.
The Egyptian government is concerned that an Israeli offensive in the region could lead to a mass influx of desperate Palestinians across the border, impacting Egypt’s territory and its ability to serve as a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid.
Egyptian officials, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, stated that Egypt may suspend the peace treaty if Israeli troops enter Rafah. This move could have significant repercussions for both nations.
Israel’s southern borders with Egypt
The treaty has limited troop deployments on both sides of the border, contributing to stability. If nullified, Israel might face challenges in maintaining its southern border as a peaceful zone, potentially straining its military resources already engaged in various fronts.
For Egypt, the consequences could extend beyond the geopolitical realm. The country has received substantial U.S. military assistance since the signing of the peace agreement. Voiding the treaty may jeopardize this funding and place additional strain on Egypt’s struggling economy, particularly if a massive military buildup becomes necessary.
Paige Alexander, CEO of the Carter Center, warned that any step drawing Egypt into the hostilities would be catastrophic for the entire region. The situation remains fluid, and the international community closely watches the developments, hoping to avert the potential collapse of a treaty that has endured for over four decades.
Source: The Associated Press
