Opinion remains divided on Egyptian role during Al-Aqsa crisis

CAIRO: Every time there is an Israeli aggression against Palestinians, eyes turn to longtime mediator Egypt.

Israel’s installation of metal detectors at entry points to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on July 16 triggered the bloodiest clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in years.

Things deteriorated just days after the Egyptian and Palestinian heads of state met to discuss reviving the dormant peace process and reaffirming the primacy of a two-state solution.

In the wake of the latest developments at Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, Cairo warned against the impact of escalation and urged Israel not to take further inflammatory measures.

“The unfortunate events at Al-Aqsa are causing an unnecessary situation,” said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. “I appeal to… the Israeli people and the Israeli leadership — please, this must stop.”

He added: “There’s no escaping the fact that the feelings of Muslims need to be respected in relation to their holy places. Al-Aqsa is… very sacred to Muslims.”

Addressing Egyptians, El-Sisi said: “Don’t take advantage of these events to throw around exaggerated slogans and say ‘we’re the defenders.’ We want to live side by side, and that’s a shared issue that we need to protect. The Palestinians need to keep this in mind, and so do the Israelis.”

In 1979, Egypt and Israel signed a US-sponsored peace treaty, upon which Cairo worked to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and mediate intra-Palestinian reconciliation.

It is common to see websites affiliated with extremist movements, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, accuse El-Sisi’s government of bowing to Israel.

However, even secular Egyptian critics of the government say what Cairo has said so far is not enough.

Hassan Nafaa, professor of political science at Cairo University, described the official stance on the Al-Aqsa crisis as “hypocritical,” saying the absence of Egypt’s political role in the region emboldened Israel.

But Paul Sullivan, adjunct professor at the Center for Security Studies, said: “Egypt is in a very complex situation that requires lots of nuance, trade-offs and diplomatic strategic thinking.”

He added: “The region has changed drastically, and Egypt needs to consider this new environment carefully. What may seem now as ‘weak’ may look smart and strategic in the future.”

Israel removed the metal detectors from the mosque compound on Tuesday.