(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah - U.S.-Egypt relations have soured since the Egyptian military ousted President Mohamed Morsi on July 3. In recent weeks, the Egyptian army has been frustrated because it perceives that the U.S. does not understand the danger posed by the Muslim Brotherhood. Many in Egypt also did not feel that the U.S. firmly condemned the Muslim Brotherhood for burning dozens of Coptic churches, torching police stations, and killing more than 50 members of Egyptian security forces. Furthermore, if some U.S. leaders were going to hint that U.S. aid to Egypt was in jeopardy, then Egyptian officials were equally comfortable in suggesting that the Israel-Egypt peace treaty is not sacrosanct. Ultimately, the issue will depend on the stance of the Egyptian military and how the generals understand what an abrogation of the peace treaty would mean for Egypt-Israel relations and Egypt's strategic interests during a period of high domestic political instability. The writer was formerly Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence.
2013-08-19 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive