(Israel Hayom) Dr. Lofty Basta - The recent cooperation between Israeli and Egyptian intelligence forces in Sinai attests to the fact that partnership between the two countries is beneficial to both. Such cooperation, however, has been covert and has barely spread to nonmilitary projects. This cautiousness is understandable given the conspiracy theories involving Israel (and the U.S.) that are rampant in Egypt's media and among its people. Israel has spectacularly flourished in a deeply unfriendly neighborhood. Marrying Israel's know-how, experience, and innovation with Egypt's abundant cheap manpower (Egypt's per capita gross domestic product is about 6% of Israel's) and its hunger to excel after generations of decline and a looming water crisis, promises to bear fruit for both countries. Unfortunately, an enduring Israeli-Palestinian peace seems far off. But ultimately, the time will come when a new Palestinian leadership realizes that Israel is a mature, respected country and a potential ally to them. The writer, an Egyptian-born Coptic Christian, is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
2019-09-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive