Is Israel the Key; Will El-Sisi Ask for Help from Israel to Solve the Renaissance Dam Crisis?

Egypt is waging “stalled paths” in its most important diplomatic battle, related to the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, with Addis Ababa announcing the completion of the “second filling” of the reservoir on July 19, 2021, and the arrival of international and African negotiations and mediation to a “closed path with no solution.”

In front of “this inability,” an idea emerged from the Egyptian diplomat, Mostafa El-Feki, concerning “trying to use Israel as a key to resolving the crisis,” under the pretense of having powerful influences on Ethiopia, and world powers such as the USA and Russia.

El-Feki neglect in his presentation of the “Israeli role” in support of Ethiopia in building the dam, and supplying Addis Ababa with weapons and military support to protect it, he also turned a blind eye to Tel Aviv's interests from the dam, and the siege of Egypt and putting it under “constant pressure,” in front of the threat of a water shortage affecting the lives of more than 100 million of its citizens.

 

El-Feki Thesis

Within one week and in two successive meetings, the diplomat and the head of the Library of Alexandria, Mostafa El-Feki, called on his country's regime to ask for help from Israel in the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam file crisis.

On July 7, 2021, during the “Happening in Egypt” program on “MBC” channel, El-Feki said: “I call on Egypt to mobilize all its forces and cards in the region for this file, there are non-Arab countries that are able to put a lot of pressure on Ethiopia.”

He stated that “some cards were not used by Egypt in order to pressure Ethiopia, including talking with Israel.”

El-Feki pointed out that “the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel was never violated by Cairo, despite the provocations of Tel Aviv,” then he wondered: “How does Israel help a country that is working to harm Egypt? we agree that there is no cause of damage, no get hurt!”

He added: “The current period is one of the most difficult periods for the African continent and the Arab world, and that the Ethiopian dam crisis will not end quickly and will continue for years.

El-Feki did not stop at these statements, on the same channel and during the same program on July 13, 2021, the diplomat repeated the same idea, he declared that Egypt is stripping itself of its tools because of “ideals,” while politics does not define “ideals,” according to his view.

The head of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina explicitly asked the regime the necessity of persuading Israel to assist it in resolving the Renaissance Dam crisis, because it has a “great influence” on all parties.

El-Feki said: “Israel has a strong influence on Ethiopia, as well as the USA and Russia, which can solve the crisis,” he referred to its “old desire” to be one of the downstream countries of the Nile River.

He explained that “Egypt must rely on non-traditional solutions to solve the crisis, and contacts with countries that have the real impact.”

El-Feki's words, 77, are not arbitrary, because he is an extraordinary person, he worked for many years in the highest ranks of the diplomatic corps, he has strong relations with decision-makers, as he was the information secretary for former President Hosni Mubarak between 1985 and 1992, he was a member of the ruling National Democratic Party during the Mubarak era, and then resigned following the January 25, 2011 revolution.

He also served as Egypt's ambassador to Austria, and a non-resident ambassador to the Republics of Slovakia and Slovenia, he served as Egypt's delegate to international organizations in Vienna, then as Egypt's delegate to the Arab League, and he served as Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Arab Affairs.

El-Feki also held the position of Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations and National Security in the People's Assembly, then Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Shura Council, this qualified him to become a deputy speaker of the Arab Parliament, then he works as a head of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

 

The Nile for Israel

El-Feki’s statements, led to questions about the reason for his neglect of the “Israeli role” in the dam crisis, with evidence confirming that Egypt is subjected to a “water blockade” from the upstream state of Ethiopia, with major support with equipment, expertise, and defensive weapons from Israel, with the aim of putting pressure on Egypt to deliver water to the occupied territories, through “El-Salam” and “Sarabium” canals.

This is what was revealed by the Egyptian artist and businessman, Mohamed Ali, on October 18, 2019, as part of his shocking leaks, as he spoke about this part, when he said: “The Egyptian regime built secret tunnels under the Suez Canal, for the purpose of giving water to Israel, at a time when the people are facing the threat of water scarcity and the drying up of the Nile River, because of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project.”

He stressed that “Some of his acquaintances of engineers who worked in the construction of these tunnels told him about this project, which has cost billions of dollars.”

It is mentioned that 40 years after the signing of the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, after which the “El-Salam Canal” was established, with the aim of delivering the waters of the Nile to Jerusalem, the Egyptian authorities suddenly announced the delivery of water to North Sinai, in light of the current relations between Egypt and Israel, which are considered the “closest historically.”

 

Full Protection

It is reported that on June 4, 2013, the former Israeli ambassador to Egypt, Zvi Mazel, said: “Cairo should not deal with the fact that the Nile belongs to it, it has to accept the existence of the Ethiopian dam, and that Ethiopia should work to conclude understandings that preserve its rights to the waters of the Nile.”

Israeli support for Ethiopia has reached the point of full protection, Addis Ababa acquired the Israeli “SPYDERr” air defense systems, to fortify the Renaissance Dam against any attacks.

According to the American magazine Military Watch, which specializes in military research, the “SPYDERr” is the only system known to be able to launch two different types of missiles simultaneously.

The Python missile has a range of 5 km, the Derby missile has a range of 50 km, the two missiles were originally (air-to-air) but were modified to become (surface-to-air).

On September 27, 2020, the Hebrew Institute for National Security Studies issued a study recommending that the Israeli government should be neutral and not aligned with Egypt in the Renaissance Dam crisis.

The study titled “Egypt and Ethiopia on a Collision Path: Where is Israel?” considered that “getting involved in a conflict during this sensitive period may do Israel more harm than good, therefore, it is better for Tel Aviv to take a neutral position.”

On the other hand, if agreements are reached between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, Israel will be able to contribute to the development of the regional order in the Nile Basin.

It pointed out that “Ethiopia is a major country in the African arena, especially in the Horn of Africa region near the Red Sea, it is witnessing rapid development processes, hence its importance for Israel, which seeks to expand its political and economic ties on the continent.”

The Israeli study further reported that in 2018, Egypt asked Israel to “use its influence with Ethiopia in the dam crisis to its advantage.”

On the other hand, it confirmed, “what was published in 2019, about Tel Aviv establishing an air defense system around the Ethiopian Dam, which caused a storm of anger in Cairo.”