Four and a Half Decades of Egyptian Normalization with the Zionists: From Initial Agreements to Current Challenges

Sarra Jmal, Department of Research, International Relations, and Strategic Affairs 29/07/2024

Translat by Wissal Klifi 10-08-2024

Introduction

The Egyptian normalization with the Zionist entity is considered to be one of the darkest decisions in Middle Eastern history. Egyptwasamong the first Arab nations to takethisstepwith the occupation four and a halfdecadesago. This normalizationisseen as a betrayal and clearabandonment of the Palestinian cause, strengtheningIsrael’s position in the Middle East and having a devastating impact on Palestinianrights. While the West viewsthis agreement as a strategic move, it has facedsevere opposition and harshcriticismfrom the Egyptian public and the Arab world, whichcontinued to support Palestinianresistance.

This widespread discontent and rejection have placed the Egyptian government under immense pressure from local and international public opinion, which supports resistance and the freedom of the Palestinian people, especially after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation.

The October 1973 War: A ConflictShaping Middle EasternPolitics for 50 Years

Fifty-one years ago, Egypt and Syria launched a joint attack against Israeli forces, marking the October 1973 War, also known as the Ramadan War or Yom Kippur War. This was the first time Arabarmiesunited in a surprise attackagainst the Zionist occupation, grantingunprecedentedstrategic and militarysuperiority in supporting and liberating the Palestinian people.

One of the most notable achievements of the Egyptian forces during this war was the strategic crossing of the Suez Canal, known as the crossing operation. This attack, occurring in the earlyhours of October 6th, was a pivotal moment in the war. Aftercrossing, Egyptian forces established a bridgehead on the easternbank of the Suez Canal, securing a foothold in the occupiedterritories.

Simultaneously, Syrian forces made significantadvances, capturingseveralstrategic locations in the Golan Heights and reclaiming areas underIsraeli control. This progress put considerable pressure on the occupation, whichfacedfiercebattles in regionswhereSyrian forces hadadvanced. Despite the initial significant gains by Syria, counterattacksweresuccessful in reclaimingsometerritories for Israel. The Organization of the PetroleumExporting Countries (OPEC) played a pivotalrole in the 1973 conflict by imposing an oil embargo on countries supportingIsrael, notably the United States. This strategicdecisionhad a profound impact on the global economy.

Israel suffered heavy losses in equipment and military forces during the initial days of the fighting, leading to a significant depletion of its defensive capabilities. In response, the United States launchedOperation “Nickel Grass” to provide emergency military supplies to Israel. This fundingsubstantiallyrenewedIsrael’sstrategic and defensivecapabilities.

Arab operations were significantly affected by the swift intervention and substantial support provided by the United States to Israel. Despite the initial gains by Arabarmies, the American intervention quicklyslowedtheiradvance.

This military shift ultimately led to Israel reclaiming territories lost in the early stages of the war, reinforcing its position and making it harder for Arab armies to achieve final victory.

The October 1973 War lasted about 20 days, ending with a ceasefire agreement among the conflicting parties. Althoughtheseagreementsended the direct militaryconflict, the war’srepercussionshad long-termeffects on the region, ultimatelybenefiting colonial powersthrough the Egyptianpeace agreement and normalization, whichwouldincreasePalestiniansuffering and the brutality of the Zionistentity in the comingdecades.

 The First Arab-IsraeliPeace Agreement: Camp David and Its Implications

On September 17, 1978, under American mediation, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords. This stepresolved a long-standing dispute betweenEgypt and Israel, resulting in Israel’swithdrawalfromSinai. This agreement was an unprecedented move in the Arab-Israeliconflict, representing the first instance of an Arab state agreeing to a separatepeacetreatywithIsrael, bypassingprevious efforts for a comprehensive solution involving all Arab parties and Palestinians.

Given Egypt’s significance in the Arab world, this normalization dealt a severe blow to the negotiating positions of other Arab countries, causing great disappointment and dissatisfaction towards the Camp David Accords as they were entirely excluded from the negotiations, especially the Palestinians.

The primary danger of this agreement lies in marginalizing the prevailing idea that Israel can only achieve peace with its Arab neighbors by first addressing the Palestinian issue. Palestiniansviewedthis stance as a betrayal of their cause and an assault on their national rights, as the agreement did not includeanyclearcommitment to their right to self-determination or the establishment of an independent state.

Camp David also included direct negotiations between Egypt and the occupation for the complete withdrawal from Sinai, which Israel had occupied during the 1967 War. The agreement alsocalled for the establishment of diplomatic relations betweenEgypt and Israel and achieving “lasting peace” in the Middle East.

Normalization of relations between Israel and Egypt took effect in 1980. Ambassadorswereexchanged, and the Egyptian National Assemblyabolished boycott laws in the samemonth. Sometradebegan to develop, withregularflightsinauguratedbetween the two parties. EgyptalsobegansupplyingIsraelwithcrudeoildirectly.

Following the signing of the Camp David Accords, Egypt became one of the largest beneficiaries of American foreign aid. The United States committed to providingsignificanteconomic and military support, amounting to billions of dollars annually. This aidwas crucial for stabilizing the Egyptianeconomy and supportingvariousdevelopmentprojects. The assistance includeddebt relief and support for economicreforms, easingsome of the financialburdensfacedafter the 1973 War and subsequenteconomic challenges.

The United States also sought to encourage Egypt and Israel to enhance cooperation beyond formal diplomatic relations. This wasachievedthrough the QualifiedIndustrial Zones (QIZ) agreement in 2004. This agreement allowed Egyptian goods produced with Israeli components of at least 10.5% to enter the American market duty-free.

In 2023, the volume of Israeli exports to Egypt reached approximately $126.8 million, while Egyptian exports to Israel amounted to about $143.79 million. The commercial relations between the two countries sawgrowth, particularly in the energysector, with a notable increase in Israelinaturalgas exports to Egypt. By 2024, Egyptian exports to Israelhaddoubledcompared to the previousyear, highlighting the significant expansion of economic relations between the two parties.

 The Injustice and Brutality of the Israeli Occupation: Unforgettable in the Egyptian People’s Memories

The Egyptianpeople’ssolidaritywith the Palestinian cause reflects a deep and enduringcommitmentthattranscendsgovernmentalpolicies and diplomatic relations. This solidarityisdeeplyrooted in the national and cultural identity of Egyptians, highlighting the starkcontrastbetweenpopular positions and official policiesregarding the normalization of relations withIsrael. The Palestinian cause remains an integral part of the Egyptian conscience. The people have consistentlyexpressedunwavering support for Palestinian struggle and resistance, through public demonstrations, cultural expressions, and humanitarianaid.

The ongoing support for Palestine among Egyptians and other Arab peoples serves as a powerful reminder that despite diplomatic attempts at normalization, fundamental issues of justice and human rights remain central to Arab identity and consciousness. The Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination continues to resonatedeeply in the hearts and minds of people throughout the region, ensuringthat the cause remains alive despite the normalizationpoliciespursued by someArab states over the years.

Economic and Diplomatic Challenges for EgyptAmidPalestinianGenocide and RedSeaEscalation

The refugee issue is not the only threat facing Cairo today. The tragedy and continuousbombing of Rafah have become a sparkthatPresident Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has tried to avoid for a decade, given the exacerbation of political and external challenges due to regionaldevelopmentsfollowing the Al-Aqsa Flood operation.

A significant development aggravating the state’s problems is the recent escalation in the Red Sea, where Houthis in Yemen have begun targeting Israeli-linked shipping vessels as part of their declared solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Theseattacks have disrupted maritime trafficthrough the Suez Canal, a vital artery for global trade and a major source of revenue for the Egyptian state.

President el-Sisi revealed that canal revenues had decreased by 40 to 50% since December 2024, compared to record revenues of $9.4 billion in the previous year. This declinesignificantly impacts the Egyptianeconomy, heavily reliant on the canal as a primary source of foreigncurrency and economic and politicalstability. Additionally, the ongoingheightened tensions in the RedSea place additionalstrain on diplomatic relations betweenEgypt and Israel, threatening the fragile bilateralcooperation and complicating the politicallandscape in the region. This coincideswith the continuedsuffering of Palestinians due to the brutality of the Zionistregime, exacerbating the humanitariancrisis and complicatingdiplomatic efforts to achievepeacebetween the two parties.

 Conclusion

This normalization was a betrayal to the Palestinians and their liberation cause, leading to its marginalization and weakening the unified Arab stance against the Israeli occupation. Withcontinued American support to Egyptresultingfromthis agreement, IsraelibrutalityagainstPalestiniansincreasedday by day, amidst the silence of someotherArab countries thatmovedtowardsnormalizingtheir relations with the occupation. Despite the economic and political gains brought by the peacebetweenEgypt and Israel, itslongevityremainsuncertain.

The genocide, displacement, and expulsion faced by the Palestinian people have caused worldwide outrage and anger. Continuoushumanrights violations, repeatedmilitaryattacks on civilians, and repressivepoliciesexacerbate the humanitariancrisis. Thesetragic conditions fuel feelings of anger and international condemnation, increasing pressure on Egypt to reconsiderits relations withIsrael, especiallyamidescalatingregional tensions and growing calls to support Palestinianrights.