(MEMRI) Dalia Ziada, an Egyptian writer who is executive director of the MEEM Center for Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean Studies in Cairo, has condemned those who celebrated the killing of three Israeli soldiers on June 3 by an Egyptian policeman. Ziada wrote on her Facebook page, which has 30,000 followers, that Israel should not be viewed as an enemy of Egypt, as it has supported Egypt on multiple occasions. "Anyone who truly loves Egypt cannot possibly be joyful or celebrate such an event, nor consider it a heroic act in any way....What heroic act is there in trespassing the borders of a neighboring country with which we have a peace treaty and years of security cooperation, as well as countless economic interests?" "The unprecedented cooperation between Egypt and Israel in recent years has been one of the most important factors in Egypt's success in overcoming a very critical phase in its history, amidst combating terrorism and facing immense economic challenges." "During the period between 2013 and 2015, when Hamas elements infiltrated Sinai and later pledged allegiance to ISIS, Israeli forces were fighting alongside Egyptian forces against terrorism in Sinai." "Israel is not an enemy of Egypt. Israel is Egypt's direct neighbor and one of the countries that stood by Egypt in its most critical times. There is absolutely no reason to ignite conflict with it." "Anyone who does so or encourages it harms Egypt's interests greatly...especially considering all the positive and loving attitudes of Israel towards Egypt that I have witnessed firsthand."
2023-06-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive