A few days ago Egypt facilitated and hosted a meeting between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo. It was largely viewed as a public relations move to legitimize the Palestinian push for statehood through the United Nations, as well as boost Egyptian image. There is serious doubt about the sincerity of the unification attempt and many view Egypt’s endeavor in moving this process along as provocation towards Israel.
It is puzzling and troubling that the interim Egyptian regime did not feel the need to consult with Israel before independently taking on this enormously complicated and controversial task, one that will probably fail in the end. Egypt knew that Israel would reject the meeting based on its stance toward Hamas, but moved ahead anyway. This is the second questionable act by Egypt since its revolution. The first being the allowance of Iranian ships to pass through the Suez Canal in February.
The passage through the Suez Canal was an expression of a new Egyptian power and a symbol of change. However, this recent muscle flexing by deceptively taking on Palestinian reconciliation, given the country’s own national instability, is even more concerning. There is also growing anxiety about Egypt’s possible opening of the Rafah border with Gaza.
It was expected that Egypt would loosen its alliance with Israel. Many Egyptians viewed former ruler Hosni Mubarak as too willing to help Israel on Israeli terms. But, what originally felt like mere adjustments by the interim Egyptian regime, in terms of Israeli policies, is beginning to feel like a complete reassessment of the relationship.
