David Govrin, Israel’s former ambassador to Cairo, has accused Egypt of violating the military annex of the historic peace treaty between the two nations while cautioning Israel about Egypt’s increasing military capabilities.
The allegations were made during an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, as reported by Sama News.
Govrin, who served as Israel’s ambassador to Egypt from 2016 to 2019 and later as ambassador to Morocco, claimed that Egypt has exceeded the permitted deployment of military forces in the Sinai Peninsula, allegedly under the pretext of combating terrorism.
“There is no doubt that Egypt is breaching the military annex of the peace treaty. It has deployed a larger number of military forces in Sinai than permitted under the agreement and beyond what Israel approved,” Govrin asserted.
He further warned that Egypt’s significant investments in its military infrastructure, particularly east of the Suez Canal, should not be overlooked, especially given the country’s economic struggles and lack of imminent external threats.
“Israel must take Egypt’s military capabilities into account and not rely solely on shared interests or good intentions, as these can shift rapidly,” he emphasized.
On the broader sentiment toward Israel in Egypt, Govrin noted that hostility persists among segments of the Egyptian population, where Israel is still viewed as an imperialist entity and an unnatural presence in the region.
“After all these years, and even after October 7, 2023, questions remain about Egypt’s genuine recognition of Israel within its 1948 borders,” he concluded.
Govrin’s remarks have sparked discussions about the stability of the decades-old peace treaty and the evolving security dynamics between the two nations.
