Smotrich threatened that 'there will be no Sinai' — and inflamed the Egyptians

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in an interview that if Egypt attacks Israel, 'there is no Sinai' — a hint at conquering the peninsula. His remarks sparked a storm in Egypt and the Arab world. Al-Qahera Al-Akhbariya channel quoted an Egyptian source describing the remarks as 'a blatant attempt to use empty and escalating rhetoric for election purposes.' Egyptian military experts warned that sovereignty over Sinai is a red line, and that such rhetoric undermines the peace treaty.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sparked a diplomatic storm when he said in an interview with the Haredi platform 'The Shtiblach' that if Egypt attacks Israel, 'there is no Sinai' — a hint at conquering the peninsula. He added that settlement in Gaza and Lebanon should be encouraged, and that 'where there is no settlement, there is no army and no security.' The remarks were made on the day the government marked the events of October 7. In response, Al-Qahera Al-Akhbariya channel quoted an Egyptian source describing the remarks as 'a blatant attempt to use empty and escalating rhetoric to achieve goals related to elections.' The source emphasized that Egypt will not accept its name being dragged into political populism. Saudi Al-Arabiya channel also quoted sources saying this is an attempt to exploit the Egyptian issue as election propaganda. Egyptian military experts, including Muhammad al-Dasouqi and Ayman Abdel Mohsen, attacked Smotrich and claimed his remarks reflect political immaturity. They warned that sovereignty over Sinai is a red line, and that threatening rhetoric undermines the peace treaty. One expert even said: 'Extreme rhetoric and recklessness will not threaten Sinai, but will endanger Israel's very existence.' Additional Arab media outlets, including Al-Quds Al-Arabi and Lebanese Al-Akhbar, echoed the remarks and quoted militant Egyptian sources saying that if there is a confrontation, 'there will be no Israel.'