Israeli And Egyptian Generals Meet In The Sinai

Israeli and Egyptian officials meet in Sinai to discuss Egyptian troop deployments on the peninsula on November 7, 2021. (Israel Defense Forces)  

Times of Israel: IDF generals travel to Sinai for rare public meeting with Egyptian army 

Israel signs off on larger deployment of Egyptian troops near Rafah; move comes as Cairo becomes increasingly open about ties with Jerusalem 

Top Israeli military officers spoke with their Egyptian counterparts in a rare public meeting in the Sinai Peninsula on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said. 

The meeting was held under the auspices of the so-called Agreed Activities Mechanism, a provision of the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty, which required Jerusalem to sign off on any reinforcements that Cairo wanted to deploy to the Sinai through a joint committee made up of senior IDF and Egyptian officers.  

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WNU Editor: It also looks like a deal is about to be reached between Israel and Hamas .... Israel, Hamas said nearing prisoner swap deal, may include proof-of-life tape (Times of Israel).

Israel Has Carried Out 100 Airstrikes In The Sinai With Cairo’s O.K.

Israeli Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter (AFP/file photo)

New York Times: Secret Alliance: Israel Carries Out Airstrikes in Egypt, With Cairo’s O.K.

The jihadists in Egypt’s Northern Sinai had killed hundreds of soldiers and police officers, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, briefly seized a major town and begun setting up armed checkpoints to claim territory. In late 2015, they brought down a Russian passenger jet.

Egypt appeared unable to stop them, so Israel, alarmed at the threat just over the border, took action.

For more than two years, unmarked Israeli drones, helicopters and jets have carried out a covert air campaign, conducting more than 100 airstrikes inside Egypt, frequently more than once a week — and all with the approval of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

The remarkable cooperation marks a new stage in the evolution of their singularly fraught relationship. Once enemies in three wars, then antagonists in an uneasy peace, Egypt and Israel are now secret allies in a covert war against a common foe.

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WNU Editor: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

More News On Reports That Israel Has Carried Out 100 Airstrikes In The Sinai With Cairo’s O.K.

Israelis target ISIS fighters in Egypt as part of covert counterterrorism pact -- Washington Post
Israel carrying out secret airstrike campaign in Sinai to help Egypt — report -- The Times of Israel
NYT Report: 'Israel struck over 100 targets in Sinai with Cairo's okay' -- The Jerusalem Post
IAF attacked ISIS in Sinai over 100 times in two years -- Ynetnews
Revealed: Israel Regularly Launching Airstrikes at Sinai Terrorists with Egypt's Blessing -- The Jewish Press
NYT: Israel Conducted Over 100 Airstrikes in Egypt as Part of War on ISIS in Sinai -- Haaretz
Israel carries out secret air strikes against Islamic State in Egypt: Report -- Middle East Eye

Egypt Is Permitting Israel To Launch Drone Strikes Against ISIS Militants In The Sinai

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) shakes hands with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (AFP)

Bloomberg: Old Mideast Foes Unite Over Gas Deals and Fighting Militants

* Israel said to back Palestinian peace initiative by Egypt
* Netanyahu assures accord with Turkey won’t stop gas to Egypt

When Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi turned a standard speech on electricity supplies into an unexpected appeal for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, one man who wasn’t surprised was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The televised address in May capped months of backstage diplomacy by a group including former British premier Tony Blair. With Netanyahu wary of a separate French-led proposal that could impose a solution to the Palestinian conflict, almost every step was coordinated with his veteran negotiator, Yitzhak Molcho, according to people familiar with the secret talks.

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WNU Editor: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". My only surprise is that this story is not being covered as much as I thought it would be.

More News On Reports That Egypt Is Permitting Israel To Launch Drone Strikes Against ISIS Militants In The Sinai

Israel carried out drone strikes against terror groups in Sinai: report -- i24 News
Report: Israel has conducted drone strikes against terrorists in Sinai -- Jerusalem Post
With Egypt's blessing, Israel conducting drone strikes in Sinai -- report -- The Times of Israel/AP
Report: Israel Launched Numerous Drone Strikes in Sinai -- Haaretz
Israel is operating in the Sinai - with Egypt's blessing -- Arutz Sheva
Israel has launched drone strikes in Sinai with Egypt’s blessing: Report -- Middle East Eye
Israeli Drone Strikes in Sinai Point to Close Defense Cooperation With Egypt -- Haaretz
Israel Operating in the Sinai - With Egypt's Blessing -- Breaking Israel News
Israel Hits ISIS in Sinai as Ties With Egypt Intensify -- PJ Media
Israel Engaging In Drone Strikes Against ISIS In Egyptian Territory — Egypt Could Not Be Happier -- Daily Caller

Israeli PM Netanyahu: We Threatened To Send Troops To Cairo In 2011 To Rescue Israeli Officials Besieged In The Embassy

Burning the Israeli flag at Israel's embassy in Cairo, 2011. (photo credit:GIGI IBRAHIM FROM CAIRO/WIKIMEDIA)

Times Of Israel: PM says he threatened raid on besieged Cairo embassy in 2011

Former Foreign Ministry officials dismiss claims that imminent rescue operation pushed Egypt to evacuate staff from angry mob.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that amid the 2011 popular uprising in Egypt, he threatened to send troops to Cairo to evacuate staff besieged by demonstrators inside the Israeli embassy. He later clarified that any rescue operation would have been coordinated with Cairo.

Speaking at a Foreign Ministry ceremony ahead of Israel’s Memorial Day for soldiers and victims of terror, Netanyahu said the move was intended to pressure Egypt into sending its own security forces to rescue the trapped Israelis.

“Here, a few years ago, in the Foreign Ministry situation room, we faced an ever-tightening siege on our people in the Israeli embassy in Cairo,” Netanyahu, who is acting foreign minister, told diplomats and ministry staff.

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Update #1: PM reveals: Israel threatened to send forces to free security officials from besieged Cairo embassy -- Jerusalem Post
Update #2: Netanyahu says he threatened raid to rescue Israelis from Cairo embassy in 2011 -- Reuters

WNU Editor: it is a good thing that this not happen .... such an armed incursion into the heart of Cairo would have probably created quite a response. The Israeli PM's office has since clarified these earlier remarks .... Netanyahu: We never threatened unilateral military steps in Cairo embassy crisis (i24 News).