Egypt’s Double Farce with Israel: Popular Hostility and Institutional Deals
The works of the Theatre of the Absurd have always been, and will remain, the deepest tool to express the mechanisms of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes in tightening their grip on peoples and managing them “like herds”; sometimes through conspiracy narratives, and at other times through directed mobilization and incitement. The pioneers of this theatrical approach such as Eugène Ionesco, Samuel Beckett, and Harold Pinter excelled in dismantling false rhetoric and unveiling the absurdity of political and social realities, where truth dissolves into fog and power becomes a fully staged absurd play.
This absurdist spirit eloquently exposes the duplicity prevailing in authoritarian systems, where loud public rhetoric filled with slogans and dramatic stances conceals hidden interests that often contradict the proclaimed values of justice, truth, and peace. Today, this duplicity is vividly manifested in the Egyptian scene, where hostile public statements clash with major economic deals secretly concluded behind closed doors.
The Egyptian military authoritarian regime repeats the same act: while negotiations proceed behind closed doors to sign a historic gas deal with Israel, hateful and inflammatory speeches escalate openly.
Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, warns against the absence of the Palestinian cause from educational curricula in the Islamic world, which has negatively impacted generations’ awareness of this crucial issue, while the opposing side referring to Israel is keen on teaching its fabricated narrative at all educational levels. Al-Tayeb’s words signal his determination, empowered by his influence across Sunni Islamic countries, to propagate the Egyptian model of hostility and incitement against Israel.
Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Religious Endowments and spiritual guide to President Sisi, states: “Egypt is the primary supporter of the Palestinian cause until the Day of Judgment, and insulting campaigns will not affect its position.” Of course, there is no need to elaborate for dear readers on Cairo’s extreme stance that Al-Azhari affirms, including his occasional attacks on Israel.
Ashraf Zaki, Head of the Actors’ Syndicate, announces the expulsion of any member proven to be involved in normalization with the “Zionist entity” (avoiding mentioning Israel’s name, as if the peace treaty does not exist), adding: “This decision was issued by the Federation of Artistic Syndicates during the era of Professor Saad El-Din Wahba and is non-negotiable, meaning that hostility is perpetual.”
These statements coincided with the final days of negotiations and immediately prior to the announcement of the gas deal signed between Cairo and Tel Aviv, worth $35 billion, revealing that the overall scene is little different from an absurdist play: noise at the forefront, and major interests settled behind the curtain.
For the record, my words are not a criticism of Israel but rather focus on the Egyptian condition, where it seems the message is: “Our interests and what sustains our rule for us, and for you hatred, hostility, and incitement.” The Israeli side has always genuinely extended a helping hand to Egypt. I recall the real part of the war on terror in Sinai, which followed the expulsion of the Muslim Brotherhood, when the confrontation between the Egyptian army and terrorists intensified, Israel was strongly present, providing precise information and coordinates that enabled the Egyptian forces to clinch victory.
When Egypt’s energy crisis loomed, causing electricity cuts in some governorates for nearly 15 hours daily in recent weeks, Israel was once again present, as a historic agreement to export natural gas to Egypt was announced yesterday.
“NewMed Energy,” one of the partners in the Israeli Leviathan gas field, signed the largest export agreement with Egypt valued at $35 billion. Under the deal, Israel will supply Egypt with 130 billion cubic meters of gas until 2040 or until all contracted quantities are fulfilled.
To the Egyptian regime: Isn’t it more appropriate to halt the institutionalized societal rhetoric of hatred, incitement, and poisonous hostility against Israel? This rhetoric that Al-Azhar’s Sheikh seeks to generalize across all Islamic countries.
I recall the late great President Anwar Sadat, who signed the peace treaty on behalf of Egypt. I ask myself: How would Egypt’s standing be today if it had advanced in what Sadat planned comprehensive cooperation with Israel and popular normalization between the two societies in every sense of the word?
What is most dangerous now from Cairo’s side is making popular peace between the Egyptian and Israeli societies a virtual impossibility a situation that must stop immediately.
If only my people understood that true peace and popular normalization with Israel is the solution.
