In a move that marks a dramatic departure from nearly five decades of carefully maintained diplomatic language, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has publicly referred to Israel as an “enemy” the first time an Egyptian leader has used the term since President Anwar Sadat’s groundbreaking peace overtures in 1977.
The declaration, delivered during a televised address in Cairo, comes amid escalating violence in Gaza and mounting public anger across the Arab world. Analysts say the terminology signals a profound recalibration of Egypt’s posture toward its neighbor, threatening to unravel a cornerstone of Middle Eastern diplomacy: the Camp David peace accords.
Observers note that while Egyptian-Israeli ties have often been cold, official rhetoric has consistently emphasized “peace partner” rather than “enemy.” Sisi’s words, therefore, resonate not only domestically but also regionally, where Egypt has long positioned itself as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians.
Diplomatic sources caution that the fallout could be severe, potentially straining U.S.-backed military and economic cooperation and unsettling a fragile balance in the region. Still, many Egyptians see Sisi’s shift as aligning the government’s voice with popular sentiment.
“This is a seismic change,” one Cairo-based political analyst said. “It suggests that the peace once thought unshakable may no longer be taken for granted.”
