The summit of foreign ministers in the Negev paints a picture of a unified Arab bloc. Israel has an interest in creating a new regional architecture aimed at Iran, in which it is a partner alongside major Arab countries, led by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. But the Arab world, as a whole, has a different perception of the Iranian threat. Naturally, the Gulf states, Iran's neighbors, are more sensitive to various Iranian threats and in recent years to Iran’s proxies in Yemen. For its part, Egypt was the last country to confirm its participation in the Negev Summit, and not by chance.
The summit does not match Egypt's leading priorities, given its public character, the leading regional status awarded to Israel as the host of the meeting, the conspicuous lack of Palestinians, and the emphasis on the Iranian threat as the undeclared target of the summit. In addition, Egypt welcomed the Abraham Accords upon their announcement, but until recently kept a safe distance. For example, Egypt sent a junior level representative to a ministerial-level regional conference held last October in the United Arab Emirates. In general, it displayed a small number of multilateral signs of normalization that deviated from its traditional caution.
That said, there has recently been a change in Egyptian policy. Cairo is slowly joining the camp of the Abrahamic Accords countries, albeit hesitantly and without enthusiasm. Just last week, it hosted the tripartite summit of leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, and this week it accepted the Israeli invitation to the summit of foreign ministers in the Negev. In the background of its decision are weighty strategic interests, including assistance from the United States, the Gulf states, and Israel in tackling its massive economic challenges, exacerbated due to the war in Ukraine.
The Iranian issue, which is expected to be at the center of discussions, does not lead Cairo's list of concerns. Yet while Cairo does not have the same anti-Iranian sentiment as its Gulf allies and Israel, it too sees Iran and its proxies as a serious threat to the stability and well-being of the region. Beyond the symbolic importance of Egypt’s participation in the summit, it can play a role in the regional security network by strengthening the influence of the moderate Sunni axis and Israel at the expense of Iranian influence in a variety of arenas, including Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the Red Sea.
The summit of foreign ministers in the Negev paints a picture of a unified Arab bloc. Israel has an interest in creating a new regional architecture aimed at Iran, in which it is a partner alongside major Arab countries, led by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. But the Arab world, as a whole, has a different perception of the Iranian threat. Naturally, the Gulf states, Iran's neighbors, are more sensitive to various Iranian threats and in recent years to Iran’s proxies in Yemen. For its part, Egypt was the last country to confirm its participation in the Negev Summit, and not by chance.
The summit does not match Egypt's leading priorities, given its public character, the leading regional status awarded to Israel as the host of the meeting, the conspicuous lack of Palestinians, and the emphasis on the Iranian threat as the undeclared target of the summit. In addition, Egypt welcomed the Abraham Accords upon their announcement, but until recently kept a safe distance. For example, Egypt sent a junior level representative to a ministerial-level regional conference held last October in the United Arab Emirates. In general, it displayed a small number of multilateral signs of normalization that deviated from its traditional caution.
That said, there has recently been a change in Egyptian policy. Cairo is slowly joining the camp of the Abrahamic Accords countries, albeit hesitantly and without enthusiasm. Just last week, it hosted the tripartite summit of leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, and this week it accepted the Israeli invitation to the summit of foreign ministers in the Negev. In the background of its decision are weighty strategic interests, including assistance from the United States, the Gulf states, and Israel in tackling its massive economic challenges, exacerbated due to the war in Ukraine.
The Iranian issue, which is expected to be at the center of discussions, does not lead Cairo's list of concerns. Yet while Cairo does not have the same anti-Iranian sentiment as its Gulf allies and Israel, it too sees Iran and its proxies as a serious threat to the stability and well-being of the region. Beyond the symbolic importance of Egypt’s participation in the summit, it can play a role in the regional security network by strengthening the influence of the moderate Sunni axis and Israel at the expense of Iranian influence in a variety of arenas, including Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the Red Sea.