MAYBE ISRAEL SHOULD CARRY OUT A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST THE ASWAN DAM

Israel challenges Egypt on secret Sinai military buildup

Israel has officially protested the recent violations of the 1979 peace treaty, which prohibit Cairo from having a sizeable military presence in Sinai.

 

By  Shirit Avitan Cohen 

 

Israel Hayom

Feb 23, 2025

 

Egyptian tanks in the Sinai near the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza strip on January 19, 2025   

 

 

Senior Israeli officials have approached Egypt regarding serious violations of peace agreement terms following mounting evidence of Egyptian military buildup in Sinai that exceeds previously agreed limits, Israel Hayom has learned. Sources familiar with the matter said Egyptian officials proposed US mediation to reduce growing tensions between the nations. The Israeli diplomatic messages were conveyed amid increasingly concerning social media posts showing the Egyptian army allegedly conducting exercises preparing for a potential "invasion" of Israel through Sinai.

In recent discussions between the sides, Egyptian officials expressed their own concerns, stating that "entities with foreign interests aiming to destabilize relations between the countries are responsible for distributing the videos, some edited and some fabricated." Egypt additionally proposed resolving their Sinai violations through accelerated bilateral dialogue to bridge gaps, suggesting US mediation if direct talks prove unsuccessful.

 

Egypt’s massive military buildup in the Sinai is a violation of the peace deal

 

These diplomatic exchanges follow last week's Israel Hayom exclusive report about Israeli Ambassador to the US Yehiel Leiter briefing American Jewish organization leaders on this sensitive issue, characterizing the situation as "intolerable."

Security and diplomatic sources confirmed Egypt's pattern of introducing forces into Sinai in violation of agreements over the years, only requesting Israeli approval after the fact – which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consistently granted. Dr. Yagil Henkin, a military affairs expert who first warned about concerning trends from the south in 2018, explained: "This happened through creeping annexation. First, they would bring in forces, then retroactively request Israeli approval, which was always given. Even after operational needs ended, forces were not withdrawn."