Smotrich Warns Egypt It Would Lose Sinai in Next Attack

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Egypt must understand that "the next time they attack, there will be no Sinai" if Israel is to be sure that Cairo never attacks it. Open Source Intel carried the remarks. The report did not name an original outlet, and the remarks could not be independently verified.

Smotrich also said he is not reassured by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's declarations that Egypt has no territorial ambitions and no intention of going to war against Israel. Sisi made those declarations on his own initiative.

The two men have clashed over Sinai before. In remarks made on October 15, Sisi answered an earlier Smotrich warning that Egypt would lose Sinai if it ever attacked Israel. He addressed the Israeli minister directly but did not name him, and his audience applauded.

"Who said we want war? We have no such agenda. Our land is in our hands. We fought to take it, and the matter is settled," Sisi said.

"As long as our borders are quiet and secure, we have a peace agreement with Israel, and we have no ambitions regarding it or its territory," he added.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (Photo: Shutterstock)

On October 17, Sisi spoke at a graduation ceremony at Egypt's Military Academy. He said Cairo had no intention of attacking anyone and was prepared to act only in defense. He also called an emergency session of Egypt's parliament to authorize action in Saudi Arabia's defense against the Houthis. Sisi said Egypt would act "if we are asked."

At the same ceremony, Sisi announced that he will step down when his current term ends in 2030.