Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning a trip to Cairo to finalize a multibillion-dollar agreement to supply natural gas to Egypt, according to sources.
Agreement Details
Israeli officials have been working with senior US diplomats in recent days to prepare for the visit, a senior US diplomatic source confirmed to The Times of Israel. Netanyahu intends to present the visit as a historic event and aims to achieve a diplomatic and media success ahead of upcoming Israeli elections, while also diverting attention from domestic political issues.
Prime Minister’s Office Response
The Prime Minister’s Office stated it had no knowledge of the planned trip.
Previous Attempts at a Summit
Recent reports indicated the US was attempting to arrange a trilateral summit between US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu, and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi during Netanyahu’s expected visit to Florida later this month. Following the Gaza ceasefire agreement, el-Sissi invited Netanyahu to join President Trump in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, an invitation brokered by Trump, but Netanyahu declined due to the Simhat Torah holiday.
Efforts to Organize the Summit
Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, is currently leading the efforts to organize the potential Cairo summit. Leiter has taken on the role of Netanyahu’s primary liaison with Washington and Arab states, including Syria and Lebanon, following the resignation of former strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer last month.
Past Visits and Current Relations
Netanyahu has previously visited Egypt twice during the presidency of Hosni Mubarak, with his last official state visit occurring 15 years ago in January 2011. Other trips were conducted in secret.
Relations between Israel and Egypt have been strained since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, with limited diplomatic contact for two years, aside from ongoing security coordination between intelligence services regarding hostage negotiations.
Ongoing Disputes
Recent months have seen disagreements over the management of the Rafah Border Crossing, the potential acceptance of Gaza refugees by Egypt, and Egypt’s possible participation in an international stabilization force for Gaza. Smuggling attempts from Egypt into Israel using drones have also contributed to the strained relationship.
Concerns Over Gas Deal
The gas deal, valued at $35 billion, faces complications despite the economic benefits for both countries. Energy Minister Eli Cohen has voiced concerns that exporting natural gas could deplete Israel’s reserves and compromise its energy security, leading to delays in the agreement. Cohen recently told The Times of Israel, “I will not let Netanyahu sign an agreement until all details are ironed out, including the security disagreements we have with the Egyptians.”
Netanyahu views the deal as an opportunity to strengthen Israel’s peace agreements with neighboring countries and promote his vision of utilizing Israel’s gas resources for long-term revenue.
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