Egypt

Egypt, Israel’s southwestern neighbor, is of key importance for Israel’s national security due to multiple, diverse factors: it is the most populous Arab nation, with a population of more then 100 million; the common border with Israel is 208 km long (the construction of the separation fence was completed in December 2013); both nations share an interest in confronting the security challenges of terrorism and smuggling in the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip; there are long term deals in the gas and energy sector; the two have joint (albeit limited) economic, trade, and industrial ventures; and there is the stable, strategic peace treaty, which in 2024 celebrated its 45 years anniversary. One could also add the special role the land of the Nile has played since the dawn of the history of the Jewish people, its central function since the start of the Israeli-Arab conflict, and the fact that it is the first Arab nation to have signed a peace treaty with Israel.

At present, as in the past, Egypt is the dominant political, military, and cultural leader in this region, affecting the gamut of processes and power balances in the Middle East, Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, and the Red Sea. INSS research focuses on many elements: the internal political, social, and economic processes underway in Egypt and their impact on the nation’s stability, given the upheavals it has experienced since the January 25, 2011revolution; Egypt’s foreign relations with Arab nations and with Iran and Turkey; Egypt’s connections with the large global powers – the United States, Russia, China, and India; Egypt’s policy on geographical issues in the eastern Mediterranean (with emphasis on Greece, Cyprus, and Italy) and Africa (with emphasis on Libya, Sudan, and Ethiopia); Egypt’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and in mediation between Israel and Hamas and between Fatah and Hamas since the latter seized control of the Gaza Strip.

In its research, the Institute gives particular emphasis to Israel-Egypt relations, tracking Egyptian trends in the general discourse and public opinion regarding topics related to Israel, Jews, and the efforts to construct peace and expand bilateral relations in security, the economy, energy, science, and culture. The INSS research is focused on identifying new pathways for developing peaceful relations and enhancing their stability, and strengthening civilian relations between Israelis and Egyptians.