US pressuring Egypt to participate in 'Abrahamic Alliance': report

The United States is pressuring Egypt to play a more active role in what has been dubbed the "Abrahamic Regional Alliance" — an informal economic and security pact which includes Israel as a key partner, according to diplomatic sources.

Speaking to The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the unnamed sources said Cairo has received direct messages from Washington tying economic support to the country's willingness to engage with the alliance.

The pressure weighs heavy on Egypt, whose ailing economy is suffering from rising inflation, a shortage of foreign currency and slowing investments from the Gulf States.

While the country does receive loans from the International Monetary Fund, conditions are no longer solely financial, with Cairo being urged to improve the business environment and foster a "stable regional climate" — a term understood to mean engaging with the alliance that cements Israel's presence as a partner.

Egypt is yet to officially join the "Abrahamic Alliance" or participate in its events, but it has attended conferences hosted by and involving Israel, including the Negev Forum and the Sharm el-Sheikh Security Summit.

It has also refused to participate in some military actions, including the attacks on Yemen's Houthi rebels and Iran.

Former Egyptian Ambassador Masoum Marzouk told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Egypt joining the alliance would be meaningless, as it has had official ties with Israel for decades.

He added that Gulf states' hastiness in joining the alliance does not serve regional peace or security, but rewards Tel Aviv and encourages its aggression and expansionist policies.

Recently, during Egypt's commemoration of the June 30 'revolution' — the events that led to the overthrow of the country's first democratically-elected president Mohamed Morsi — current President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi notably said that Egypt "believes that peace is not born through bombing, imposed by force, or achieved through normalisation rejected by peoples".

He added that peace can only be achieved through "justice, fairness, and understanding".

Former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Mohamed Hegazy told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Washington is seeking to increase Israel's power through the Abraham Accords, allowing it to extend its influence through security and economic arrangements.

Hegazy highlighted that this plan fails to address the core of the issue, which is a just settlement for the Palestinians.

This article is based on an Arabic-language report from Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.