Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has firmly denied reports suggesting that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is planning to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the head of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) describing the claims as baseless rumors disconnected from reality.
Speaking by phone on MBC Masr television on Friday, SIS Chairman Diaa Rashwan said there was “no arrangement or planning whatsoever” for a meeting between the two leaders. He stressed that no political engagement of this kind has taken place, accusing Netanyahu of attempting to create a false impression of diplomatic contact with Cairo.
Rashwan noted that the reports surfaced shortly before Netanyahu announced the approval of a major gas agreement involving Egypt, suggesting that the Israeli prime minister was seeking to attach political significance to what Egypt views as a strictly commercial transaction.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu said Israel had approved a gas deal valued at $35 billion with Egypt. Rashwan said the Israeli leader had sought to “politicize a commercial agreement,” adding that no Egyptian political official had issued public statements on the deal. He emphasized that the agreement is purely economic in nature and has no bearing on Egypt’s policies or positions, particularly regarding the Palestinian cause.
According to Rashwan, Netanyahu’s messaging reflects an effort to mitigate what he described as increasing international isolation. He pointed to criticism Netanyahu has faced from U.S. President Donald Trump and the Israeli leader’s absence from several recent regional meetings as signs of mounting diplomatic pressure.
Rashwan provided details of the gas agreement, saying Egypt will pay approximately $35 billion over a 15-year period, averaging around $2.3 billion annually. Payments, he said, will be made directly to the U.S. energy company Chevron, which is responsible for exploration and operations, while Israel will receive no direct payments from the Egyptian government.
He added that Egypt is expected to generate around $11 billion over the lifetime of the deal through liquefaction fees, taxes, and re-export revenues. This, he said, means Egypt will recover its $3.5 billion investment in liquefaction infrastructure roughly three times over.
Addressing criticism that the agreement strengthens Israel’s economy, Rashwan said gas exports contribute only about 0.5 to 0.6 percent of Israel’s gross domestic product, arguing that the deal adds no significant value to Israel’s economy. He contrasted this with U.S. military aid to Israel, which he said amounted to $21 billion over the past two years.
Rashwan also rejected claims that the agreement undermines Egypt’s sovereignty, stressing that the Egyptian government retains full authority to take any measures it deems necessary. “Egypt remains free to act independently according to its own interests,” he said.
He dismissed concerns that the deal could affect domestic stability or be used as leverage to pressure Egypt into altering its stance on the Palestinian issue. Citing official data, Rashwan said Israeli gas represents about 12 to 13 percent of Egypt’s industrial and electricity consumption.
He explained that gas imports from Israel amount to roughly one billion cubic feet per day, while Egypt’s liquefied natural gas regasification capacity stands at 2.7 billion cubic feet per day, nearly three times the imported volume. This capacity, he said, would allow industry and the electricity grid to continue operating even in the event of supply disruptions.
Rashwan added that Egypt diversifies its energy sources, including liquefied and pipeline gas from partners such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries.
Reaffirming Egypt’s long-standing position on the Palestinian cause, Rashwan said Cairo continues to reject any forced displacement of Palestinians. He stated that since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, Egypt has faced “immense pressure and inducements” to accept displacement, pressures he described as “far, far greater” than those linked to the gas agreement.
The remarks underscore Egypt’s effort to draw a clear line between economic arrangements and political positions, while reiterating that Cairo’s regional policies remain unchanged despite shifting diplomatic and energy dynamics.
