Egypt’s leader, Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, calls Israel ‘enemy’ first time since peace treaty

Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, has described Israel as an “enemy” for the first time since the two countries signed a peace treaty 46 years ago, an Egyptian government official said on Wednesday.

In his speech in Doha on Monday, al-Sissi said: “our positions must change the enemy’s view of us, so that it can see that any Arab country extends from the ocean to the Gulf.”

Diaa Rashwan, the head of the State Information Service, Egypt’s official media organisation, said it was the first time an Egyptian head of state used the word “enemy” to describe Israel since 1977.

He said this when the former president Anwar Sadat visited Jerusalem.

Two years later, Egypt became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel.

Rashwan told Extra News broadcaster late Monday that “a friend does not threaten your national security and Egypt considers the threat of forced displacement of Palestinians outside Gaza as a red line.”

Arab and Islamic leaders gathered in Doha and condemned Israel’s attack in Doha last week that targeted Hamas leaders.

The attack killed six people, including a Qatari security officer and injured 18 others.

Qatar and Egypt have been acting as mediators in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.