4 | DECEMBER 26 • 2024 J
N

PURELY COMMENTARY

opinion

Egypt’s Military Buildup: 
A Looming Threat to Israel 
E

gypt, long considered a 
country maintaining a cold 
peace with Israel, is raising 
alarms with its disproportionate 
military expansion and question-
able activities. The 
lessons of Oct. 7, 
when over 1,200 
Israelis were killed by 
Hamas, underscore 
the importance of 
vigilance.
Egypt’s complicity 
in facilitating Hamas’ 
weapon smuggling through Sinai 
tunnels highlights the risks of 
complacency. Despite international 
agreements, Egypt turned a blind 
eye, with reports suggesting 
officials profited from the trade. 
This underlines a critical lesson: 
Israel must always prepare for 
worst-case scenarios, even with 
perceived partners.

THE SCOPE AND PURPOSE 
OF EGYPT’S MILITARY 
EXPANSION
Egypt has amassed an arsenal that 
far exceeds its defensive needs. 
Advanced fighter jets, modern 
tanks, drones and an expansive 
navy position Egypt as a regional 
military powerhouse. These 
developments, combined with its 
strategic control of the Suez Canal 
and Mediterranean naval presence, 
raise questions about Egypt’s 
intentions.
Lt. Col. (Res.) Eli Dekel, former 
head of terrain research at the 
IDF Intelligence Division, recently 
highlighted these threats. Dekel 

described Egypt’s military activity 
in the Sinai Peninsula as clear 
preparation for war with Israel:
“The Egyptian army is deployed 
on the border. I see them there. 
Egyptian tanks are stationed in 
areas where no Egyptian soldier is 
allowed to be. The actions of the 
Egyptian military in Sinai prove 
they are preparing for war with 
Israel.”
Dekel emphasized Egypt’s deep-
rooted hostility toward Israel and 
its long-term ambitions:
“Egypt is heavily invested 
in preparing itself for military 
confrontation when the global 
power dynamics align in its 
favor. Once a leader of the Arab 
world, Egypt was ostracized 
after recognizing Israel. Its 
strategic goal has always been the 
undermining of Israel’s existence. 
Until they achieve this goal, they 
do everything they can to diminish 
Israel’s capabilities.”

ALARMING MILITARY 
PREPARATIONS
Egypt’s recent activities are 
particularly concerning. According 
to Dekel, Egypt has begun 
constructing massive tunnels in 
the Sinai Peninsula, with entrances 
up to seven meters wide and likely 
tens of meters long, designed to 
store strategic weapons. These 
tunnels mirror similar structures 
already built on the western 
bank of the Suez Canal, with 
approximately 60 such tunnels in 
place.
 “I don’t know of any other 

enemy Egypt is fortifying against 
like this,” Dekel said. “They are 
not digging 60 tunnels in Sinai 
to defend against Iran. This is 
offensive weaponry, protected 
from airstrikes, ready to be 
deployed when they choose.”
Dekel also highlighted Egypt’s 
rhetoric and military propaganda, 
which reflect its growing hostility:
“Since the outbreak of the 
war, Egypt has been sending us 
veiled threats. Recently, during 
the inauguration of Cairo’s 
military academy, Egypt’s military 
spokesperson openly discussed 
vulnerabilities in Israel’s Merkava 
tank while President Sisi himself 
attended. 
Just days earlier, the spokes-
person released a propaganda 
video declaring, ‘We are preparing 
our army for the day Israel ignores 
our advice not to capture the 
Philadelphi Route.’”

FRAGILE REGIMES AND THE 
LESSONS OF ASSAD
The fragility of regional regimes 
is a critical factor. Just as Syria’s 
Assad regime succumbed to 
internal strife, the governments 
of Egypt and Jordan are not 
immune to similar risks. Economic 
hardship, public dissatisfaction 
and Islamist opposition could 
destabilize these nations. A 
leadership change in either 
country could result in regimes 
far less committed to maintaining 
stability with Israel, inheriting vast 
military arsenals and populations 
steeped in anti-Israel sentiment.

A CALL TO ACTION
To address these looming threats, 
Israel must act decisively:
1. Fortifying defenses: Strengthen 
border defenses, focusing on the 
southern and eastern borders 
to address risks from Egypt and 
Jordan. This includes developing 
robust military and civil defense 
plans to prepare for worst-case 
scenarios, such as hostile regime 
changes or escalations in the 
region.
 2. Reforming IDF leadership 
and intelligence communication: 
The devastating events of Oct. 
7 highlight a critical failure 
in leadership and intelligence 
communication within the IDF 
high command. The inability to 
recognize and act on clear warning 
signs of the impending Hamas 
attack underscores the urgent need 
for systemic change.
 3. Diplomatic engagement: Work 
with the Trump administration 
to ensure Egypt’s military 
expansion remains transparent and 
constrained.
 4. Maintaining territorial 
control: Retain sovereignty over 
strategic areas such as Judea, 
Samaria and the Philadelphi 
Corridor to prevent adversaries 
from exploiting them.
 Israel’s security depends on 
anticipating threats and preparing 
for the unexpected. The lessons 
of history are clear: Complacency 
comes at an unbearable cost. 

Kobi Erez is the executive director of Zionist 

Organization of America.

Kobi Erez

A Division of Law Bulletin Media – est. 1854

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