Egypt wants to return to center stage | with Smadar Perry
Egypt is working to regain its central role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, following a meeting between Trump's envoy Jared Kushner and al-Sisi and senior Hamas officials in El Alamein. Commentator Smadar Perry explains the relations with Israel, the rift with Qatar, and the competition over the mediator status.
The article deals with Egypt's efforts to return to a central role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, against the backdrop of a meeting between Trump's envoy, Jared Kushner, and Egyptian President al-Sisi and senior Hamas officials in El Alamein. This is the first meeting of its kind since the ceasefire agreement. The Arab world commentator for Yedioth Ahronoth, Smadar Perry, explains that Egypt never gave up its status as a mediator, even when Qatar was at its peak. She notes that the peace with Egypt is a "miss, a great missed opportunity for Israel," and that al-Sisi spoke about internal conversations with Netanyahu, which he stopped at a certain point. Perry describes the rift between Qatar and Egypt, which began in 2017 with the Saudi declaration of a complete severance, lasting four years. The Egyptians fear Qatari patronage of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, but see a migration of Hamas members to Turkey, which may contribute to a warming of relations.