Egypt’s President denies being behind plan for Palestinian state in Sinai
Egypt’s new military ruler has denied being behind a plan for a Palestinian state in the Sinai Peninsula that was this week being welcomed by Israeli politicians and dismissed by the Palestinians.
The proposal, from Egyptian army chief-turned president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, was greeted positively by Israeli ministers, former security chiefs and centrist politicians, who said it was “worth discussing seriously”.
However, a Foreign Ministry spokesman distanced Sisi from the reports, saying the thought originated with his predecessor – ousted Muslim Brotherhood president Mohammad Morsi.
The initiative would see an enlarged and demilitarised Gaza, roughly five times its current size, together with autonomous West Bank cities – all coming under the rule of the Palestinian Authority, which is currently led by Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas has reportedly dismissed the framework in its entirety, but that has not stopped a range of Israeli politicians pushing for the idea to be developed.
“There are elements that are worth discussing despite Abbas’ refusal,” said Science and Technology Minister Yaakov Peri, a former Shin Bet intelligence chief. “It could solve problems that weren’t given a response in talks so far.”
He was joined in his openness to the proposal by far-right politician Ayelet Shaked, a chairwoman of Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home, who said that the Egyptian president had “discerned what the Israeli Left has refused to understand for decades”.
Adding that the solution to the conflict “must be regional,” she called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with Sisi and examine the initiative.
Asked about the potential problems with the plan, Peri said it needed more thought and discussion, on issues such as Jerusalem and the extent to which West Bank cities would be controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
“The idea that major cities in Judea and Samaria will have autonomy is vague,” he said. “Everyone can understand it in a different way.”
The proposal is the first serious idea to be linked to Egypt’s new strongman leader, whose government helped arrange a Gaza ceasefire this summer and who has won friends in Israel for taking a firm stand against Islamist group Hamas.
Sisi had earlier unseated the democratically-elected Muslim Brotherhood in a bloody coup in 2013, killing up to 1,000 supporters, jailing its leaders and ultimately outlawing the group. He was subsequently elected with 97% of the vote.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
