Israeli Orientalist Calls for Shifting “Cold Peace” with Egypt to “Cold War”
In remarks aired during a political symposium broadcast by the Israeli news channel i24news, Israeli orientalist and expert on Arab affairs, Zvi Yehezkeli, suggested that the “cold peace” between Israel and Egypt should be replaced by what he described as a “cold war.” He argued that Israel’s strategic focus should now shift to Egypt, following its confrontation with Iran.
Yehezkeli stated that Israel’s southern neighbor—referring to Egypt—has begun to adopt increasingly bold positions toward Tel Aviv. He noted that the Egyptian public has been closely following the developments of the recent Israeli-Iranian conflict, adding that many Egyptians, who had previously opposed Iran, have shown signs of sympathy toward it during the latest round of hostilities.
In response to a question on whether Egypt could become Israel’s next strategic challenge, Yehezkeli replied, “It should be.”
The symposium, which addressed regional dynamics and the situation in Egypt, included participation from several Israeli analysts and commentators, including Edi Cohen, Ruth Wasserman Lande, Yoni Ben-Menachem, and military expert Eli Dekel.
During the discussion, Dekel—a retired IDF lieutenant colonel and a specialist in Egyptian affairs—delivered strong criticism of Egyptian policies. He stated that Israel may not be fully aware of Egypt’s actions in the Sinai Peninsula, warning that such oversight could lead to a potential strategic miscalculation.
