Egypt Daily News – The outgoing Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, Herzi Halevi, expressed his concern about the Egyptian army, stating that he is “very worried about its capabilities.” While it is “not currently classified as a threat,” he warned that it “could turn in an instant.”
Halevi pointed out that the Egyptian army is equipped with “advanced combat systems, aircraft, submarines, warships, and modern tanks, in addition to a large number of infantry forces.” He made these remarks during a speech to graduates of the Israeli army’s officer training course.
He added, “Egypt is not currently a priority for us; we need to focus on our own issues.” However, he noted that “the Egyptian army could find itself under different leadership overnight.”
Hebrew media reports have indicated that the Israeli army has begun gathering intelligence on the Egyptian military after observing Egyptian military reinforcements and changes in troop deployment in Sinai, which Tel Aviv views as a violation of the 1978 Camp David Agreement.
Regarding this, the newspaper Israel Hayom published a report stating that in recent weeks, there have been numerous reports about the reinforcement of Egyptian forces in Sinai, describing it as a “blatant Egyptian violation of the peace agreement.”
The newspaper stated that images and videos showing Egyptian police and military equipment in Sinai have circulated on social media. It also noted that since 2004, Egypt has built 60 crossings in the Suez Canal and established dozens of ammunition depots and underground storage sites in Sinai.
Israel Hayom: “Egypt’s Military Development Was Justified by Fighting the Muslim Brotherhood and Deterring Ethiopia”
The Hebrew newspaper pointed out that Egypt’s military capabilities have significantly advanced since Abdel Fattah El-Sisi came to power, under the pretext of “combating internal terrorism represented by the Muslim Brotherhood” and demonstrating strength against Ethiopia, which built the Grand Renaissance Dam. However, the newspaper described these justifications as mere “pretexts.”
Israel Hayom also claimed that despite the normalization agreement, Egypt continues to treat Israel as an enemy in its educational institutions, cultural sector, and media. This, according to the newspaper, is reflected in the sentiments of the Egyptian public, which has repeatedly protested during Israeli wars on Gaza and Lebanon.
If Washington Shuts Off the Ammo Supply, Can the Egyptians Wage a War?
The newspaper points out that the Egyptian people still perceive Israel as an enemy in their culture. It cited events following the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, when then-U.S. President Barack Obama sought to freeze military aid to Cairo after the Egyptian people revolted against the Muslim Brotherhood which he saw as an ally. In response, people across various political spectrums in Egypt called for canceling the Camp David Accords and severing ties with the United States.
On the other hand, Israel Hayom argues that Egypt’s vast military arsenal, including approximately 600 aircraft (338 of which are combat planes), 3,680 tanks, and an active force of 460,000 soldiers with 480,000 in reserve—does not pose a threat to Israel. The newspaper claims that much of this equipment is outdated, with half of the tanks dating back to the Soviet era.
While Israel acknowledges the gap between the Egyptian public and its leadership, it remains relatively confident that Cairo will not take steps to sever ties with Washington. The newspaper then poses the question: “Can the Egyptians sustain a long war if the United States decides to shut off the supply of ammunition or spare parts to the Egyptian army?”
