In March we were warned (twice) that Egypt had brought missiles into Sinai in violation of the peace agreement. In May we reported that Egypt used the word "war" for the first time in its reference to Israel. The day after the report, there was the fire incident between Egypt and Israel, in which an Egyptian soldier was killed. A source in the security establishment: Egypt again states that an Israeli presence in the Philadelphia axis is a red line for it. In last week's editorial we estimated that Israel should now purchase 5000 advanced tanks, in a naval convoy, and train armored fighters from among female combative and ultra-Orthodox soldiers (separately). See on the left the photograph of the introduction of the missiles into Sinai in March. Egypt inserted the missiles in broad daylight, apparently so that they could reach Israeli media. According to a senior Palestinian source, the internal situation in Egypt, and the criticism leveled by the army at Egyptian President al-Sisi, are encouraging tensions towards Israel. Before the war, we reported here on the beginnings of a thaw in relations between Egypt and Iran, now an important Palestinian source says that Egypt and Iran's ally , China, are close to signing a strategic deal worth tens of billions of dollars.

   By Meir Gurno and Mati Cohen

The internal situation in Egypt may encourage tensions with Israel. An important Palestinian source said that the army's criticism of Egyptian President al-Sisi for corruption and incompetence is deepening. In response, al-Sisi even fired the senior members of his government's military system in May; At the same time, he replaced the Minister of Defense, and the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Army. In March 1979, Israel signed a political peace agreement with Egypt, but a cultural peace agreement between the nations never took place, and in the opinion of the Egyptian public, the state of war between Egypt and Israel continues even now. On March 10 this year, we reported that Egypt had brought missiles and tanks into Sinai in violation of the peace agreement. This was the report:

"A regionally important source confirmed the news that Egypt has introduced missiles into Sinai. The introduction of the missiles and the increase in the order of forces of the Egyptian army in Sinai are without the approval of Israel and contrary to the peace agreement. A Palestinian security source: 'We know about the introduction of tanks into Sinai, and Israel also knows about it.' ". 

Next to the report we brought a photo of the introduction of the Egyptian missiles into Sinai.

On March 17, we reported that Egypt threatened Israel and announced that entering Rafah would result in a response from its side.

On May 26, we reported that Egypt warned Israel again when for the first time the word war was added to the text of its warning; This was the report:

"The head of the information system in the Egyptian government, Dia Rashwan, on Friday sharpened the Egyptian statement towards Israel, when he included the term 'war' in his words aimed at Israel. Rashwan said that 'Egypt is not looking for any war but is capable of any war.' Rashwan said these things in a telephone interview with an Egyptian journalist (a photo of an Egyptian news website where Rashwan's words were published is attached as a screenshot here on the left). Rashwan added that 'Israel is about to sacrifice the greatest prize in its history, which is relations with Egypt.' A Palestinian security source told us this weekend that Egypt is increasing forces in Sinai mainly around Rafah, to prevent any movement of Palestinians into Egypt, and he does not know of a buildup of forces in other areas of Sinai. An Israeli security source said that Egypt did indeed build up forces in Rafah but did not continue to build up forces in Sinai, 'since it has no need, because following the war against Daesh, it brought sufficient forces into Sinai with Israel's consent.'" 

The day after this report, on May 27, there was a fire incident between Israel and Egypt, one Egyptian soldier was killed.

Even now the Egyptian army is one of the most advanced in the Middle East, and has 5,000 tanks, 80 percent of which are advanced American tanks. The nature of war in the desert requires the extensive use of tanks, an assumption that was verified in past wars, most notably the Yom Kippur War in which Israel was saved from destruction through tank maneuvers, and tank coverage. 

In our estimation, Egypt is indeed preparing for a future war, but tensions could break out right now against the background of Israel's desire to remain on the Philadelphia axis, and Egypt's resolute opposition to this.