🇪🇬EgyptNorth Africa
Egypt's protracted diplomatic efforts with Israel for land reclamation
via Egypt Today4 min read
Egypt engaged in extensive military and diplomatic efforts to reclaim its land from Israel, culminating in the 1973 victory and subsequent negotiations. The Kilometer 101 Talks in October and November 1973 established ceasefire lines and paved the way for political discussions, leading to an agreement on November 11, 1973, for a ceasefire, supplies to Suez, UN monitoring, and prisoner exchange. Subsequent disengagement agreements in January 1974 and September 1975 defined withdrawal lines, established a UN buffer zone, and saw Egypt regain approximately 4,500 square kilometers of Sinai territory. These agreements emphasized peaceful resolution over military force. The Camp David Accords, signed on September 18, 1978, at the White House, established frameworks for peace in the Middle East and a peace treaty. The treaty, signed on March 26, 1979, formally ended the state of war and mandated Israel's withdrawal from Sinai, restoring Egyptian sovereignty. This led to a phased Israeli withdrawal, with the Egyptian flag raised in El Arish on May 26, 1979, and the majority of Sinai liberated by April 25, 1982. However, a border dispute over Taba arose in December 1981, which Israel initiated. Egypt pursued a legal and diplomatic battle, leading to an international arbitration panel's ruling on September 29, 1988, which unanimously declared Taba as Egyptian territory. The Egyptian flag was finally raised over Taba on March 19, 1989, completing the liberation of all national soil.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Egypt Today.
Must ReadCabinet Spokesperson Mohamed El-Homsany stated that the Egyptian government is working to mitigate the impact of the ongoing regional conflict by ensuring a consistent supply of essential goods and meeting citizens' basic needs. The government coordinates through a Crisis Committee, which meets regularly to address regional fallout, ensuring a rapid response to market changes and safeguarding the local supply chain. Efforts to contain the effects of the regional war involve utilizing strategic reserves for essential commodities and strengthening market oversight. High-level cooperation among the Ministries of Supply and Interior, the Egyptian Competition Authority, and the Consumer Protection Agency aims to monitor markets, ensure goods availability, and prevent monopolistic practices or unjustified price hikes. The primary goal of these measures is to curb inflation and price manipulation, with the government allocating necessary funding and maintaining strict market surveillance to ensure stability and availability of goods for all consumers.
Sheikh Issa al-Kharrafin, head of the Sinai Tribes, stated that Sinai is experiencing an unprecedented developmental and urban renaissance driven by national projects. He highlighted Sinai's historical role as Egypt's eastern gateway, which has made it vulnerable to conflicts and terrorism. Al-Kharrafin noted that many tribesmen sacrificed their lives fighting terrorism alongside the Egyptian Armed Forces. He attributed the current development to strategic national initiatives like the Al-Mahsama Canal project, which aims to reclaim and cultivate 400,000 feddans, building on earlier projects such as the Al-Salam Canal. The Sheikh emphasized that the scale of development has surpassed expectations and urged Egyptians to move to and invest in Sinai to foster stability, stressing the strategic need for 4 million citizens in central Sinai. He concluded by reaffirming the Sinai tribal leaders' loyalty and support for President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's leadership.
During an official visit to Egypt, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his delegation toured the Grand Egyptian Museum GEM and the Giza Pyramids. At the GEM, they were welcomed by Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the Museum Authority, and given a tour by Mr. Sherif El-Sayed, which included the main atrium, Grand Staircase, and King Tutankhamun galleries. President Stubb praised the unique artifacts and the museum's display strategy. Subsequently, at the Giza Pyramids, Ashraf Mohi El-Din, Director General of Antiquities for Cairo and Giza, guided the delegation, explaining the site's history and ongoing excavations. President Stubb expressed awe at the Great Pyramid's scale and ancient engineering, describing the site as an engineering and architectural marvel. He concluded the visit by taking commemorative photos and expressing a desire to return.
Egypt observes Sinai Liberation Day on April 25th, marking the complete liberation of Sinai and the raising of the Egyptian flag in 1982. This day commemorates the culmination of a series of conflicts and negotiations that began over six years prior to the 1973 war. The "Crossing War" in October 1973, where Egyptian forces breached the Suez Canal and the Bar Lev Line, led to the restoration of full sovereignty over the Suez Canal and a portion of the Sinai Peninsula. This conflict also shattered the perception of Israeli invincibility and boosted Arab confidence. The October War paved the way for the Camp David Accords in 1978, following President Sadat's initiative. Political negotiations, including UN Resolutions 338 and 242, and subsequent disengagement agreements in 1974 and 1975, further advanced the peace process. The Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel, signed on March 26, 1979, stipulated the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Sinai. The phased withdrawal concluded on April 25, 1982, with the raising of the Egyptian flag in Rafah and Sharm El Sheikh. The final dispute over Taba was resolved through international arbitration, with the panel ruling Taba to be Egyptian territory on September 30, 1988, and the Egyptian flag finally raised there on March 19, 1989.