Alex Brandon
During a visit to Cairo, Blinken highlighted the efforts of the Egyptian government, government circles said on Wednesday. After the meeting in Cairo, the US chief diplomat traveled on to visit the Jordanian King Abdullah II. On Tuesday, as part of his trip to the Middle East, he had already met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
Al-Sisi emphasized in the presence of Blinkens that the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians, which had been on hold since 2014, must be revived. According to Al-Sisi, according to Egyptian government circles, it is important that the United States are “effectively involved”.
Egypt was the first country in the Arab world to recognize Israel in 1979, Jordan followed in 1994. Cairo has mediated several times in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Relations with the militant Hamas in the Gaza Strip are also crucial. Egypt controls the only border crossing in the narrow coastal strip and had wounded people from the attacks in Gaza treated in Egyptian hospitals.
Al-Sisi is considered by observers to be one of the winners of the ceasefire. Despite criticism, among other things because of curtailed human rights in Egypt, he was able to prove himself to be an important partner in the region. US President Joe Biden had personally thanked Al-Sisi after brokering the ceasefire and spoke of “successful diplomacy in coordination with the United States”.