And while Egypt, Germany, France, and Jordan issued a joint statement on Tuesday saying that they categorically reject Israel's plans and that such a move would "violate international law and could also have an impact on relations with Israel," Cairo has not independently criticized Israel the way the other three have.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, said Egypt tends to be "less sensitive about these issues."

Egypt is currently focused on a number of other issues, such as problems with Ethiopia and Sudan. He explained.

Tensions have arisen over Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam project, which could negatively affect Egypt's water supply since both countries share the Nile River.

"The fact that Egypt is quiet on a publicly level doesn't mean it is quiet privately," he noted.

Guzansky pointed out other factors that influence Egypt's quiet approach to Israel's plans.

Egypt's relationship with Israel is important for fighting against the presence of terror groups in Sinai, according to Guzansky, and Egypt also "does not want to jeopardize its relationship with [US President Donald] Trump."

The country is also fighting Turkey for strategic superiority in neighboring Libya – something "very high on Egypt's agenda," according to Guzansky.

Dana Stroul, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told JNS that the pro-sovereignty camp in Israel wagers that "each Arab government stands to lose too much from cutting off relations with Israel, even if annexation takes place unilaterally outside of bilateral negotiations."

She said that "Egyptian leaders certainly do not support unilateral annexation." But instead of publicly condemning Israel, they are raising their concerns quietly and through intelligence channels.

"Egypt's relationship with Israel has remained largely under the table and in the security realm; issues are worked out privately among the professionals," according to Stroul.

Peace between the countries 'will not collapse the day after'

Stroul listed a number of reasons that Egypt has chosen a "more subdued approach."

The first, she said, "is to protect the relationship with US President Donald Trump, who has embraced President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and eliminated virtually all US criticism of his government."

The second is that Arab leaders don't want to be on "the receiving end of an angry tweet [by Trump] threatening to cut assistance or downgrade the relationship due to criticism of Israeli annexation."

Third, Egypt's peace treaty with Israel "has allowed the Egyptian military to focus on the real threats to Egypt's security: counterterrorism, porous borders to the west with Libya and to the south with Sudan, and maritime threats."

She also noted that "in the Sinai, the Egyptian army has not succeeded in effectively eliminating that ISIS branch and receives intelligence and other forms of support from Israel."

Even if Israel applies sovereignty, she said, "Israeli security support and intelligence cooperation is too valuable to risk losing given the very real threat of ISIS directing attacks inside Egypt."

Fourth, Cairo "sought to facilitate Palestinian reconciliation for years, and similar other governments in the region are frustrated by the ineffective Palestinian leadership in Ramallah," led by Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas.

Stroul said that if Israel extends sovereignty, it could "expect angry statements and temporary damage to Egyptian-Israeli diplomatic relations."

While the peace agreement between the two countries "will not collapse the day after," the routine Egyptian-Israeli engagements "might be interrupted thereby damaging a pillar of Israel's security," she said. "Egyptian media will also speak out forcefully and in condemnation of annexation, but the government controls the press and can dial-up or dial-back the pressure."

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

So "between the COVID-19 pandemic, the Egyptian health system's fragility and associated economic strains after years of reform measures to stabilize the economy, the war waging in Libya, active ISIS threat in the Sinai and Ethiopia on the verge of filling the Renaissance dam, el-Sissi has more than enough on his plate," summed up Stroul.

For all of these reasons, she stated, el-Sissi may have come to the realization that focusing on the application of Israeli sovereignty and the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict "is a lesser priority."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

The post Cairo's near-silence over Israel's sovereignty bid speaks volumes  appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Speaking at a security conference at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Kochavi explained that "one of the IDF's roles is to ensure periods without wars. Winning wars isn't enough – we have to manage security in a way that doesn't test the public every two-three years.

 Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

"War is always the last resort but sometimes, war is a solution. Therefore, when we act, we will always be in a just moral position of acting with the purpose of defense rather than offense. Once we have been forced to reach this situation, we will not hesitate to employ the full force of the IDF, even in the urban sphere where the enemy has chosen to act," he said.

He further noted that regional changes have given way to a rise in the threats Israel faces.

"We are sparing no effort to stay one step ahead of the enemy. Every arena is active and we are dealing with a growing number of arenas and a growing number of enemies."

The enemy is also becoming increasingly sophisticated, he warned.

"Their warheads and missile range are growing and in the next war, we will sustain more fire. We have to acknowledge that and prepare for it, mentally too."

Commenting on Iran's nuclear ambitions, the chief of staff said that "Iran has doubled the amount of enriched material it is allowed to have [under the 2015 nuclear deal] and its scientists are working on the ability to assemble a warhead. Iran has become more aggressive – first and foremost against the [Persian] Gulf states. There's no deterrence, no response and no retaliation [on the part of the Gulf states]. Iran has changed its policy toward us, but we are responding and will continue to respond," he said.

Kochavi noted that "the possibility of reaching a limited conflict – or more than that – with Iran exists. It would have been better if we were not the only ones, but this is the reality for the time being. We intend to continue with our efforts to undermine Iran's efforts to gain a greater foothold in the northern sector and in Iraq."

Still, the chief of staff said he believes none of Israel's enemies want to provoke war at this time.

"It has to do with our abilities and willingness to exercise power from time to time. Some of our recent operations have been able to bolster deterrence but that's never foolproof. Deterrence needs maintenance. I recognize an opportunity in Gaza – Hamas wants to improve Gazans' welfare and it has a strong desire to avoid an escalation."

The chief of staff added that alongside the IDF's preparations for military scenarios, there is a need to bolster national resilience.

"Destroying enemy assets on the ground is the key to success," he said noting that should a conflict erupt with the terrorist group in Gaza or with Hezbollah – Iran's proxy in Lebanon – "We'll have to respond forcibly. It won't be a war fought for just a day or two. I can't promise short wars.

"National resilience will be called upon and that means that our enemies will see that the public is strong and understands that they have to stay steadfast through it."

Kochavi also noted that Israel's efforts to maintain its security have the support of the US and Russia.

"Military relations with Russia are excellent. Military ties with the United States are outstanding. We are concentrating our efforts on the northern sector, placing an emphasis on precision missiles and [Iran's elite] Quds Force," he concluded.

The post 'Limited conflict with Iran is possible,' IDF chief warns appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Overnight Monday, Israeli Air Force jets attacked a Hamas military installation in Gaza after another rocket was fired from the Strip into Israel. The projectile hit an unpopulated area in the Eshkol region Monday, causing no damage or injuries.

In a statement, the IDF reiterated its position that it holds the ruling Hamas organization responsible for any aggression coming out of Gaza, regardless of which group launched the rocket.

Addressing the situation on Israel's northern front, where it borders Lebanon and Syria, Eizenkot said, "Hezbollah has transitioned from defender of Lebanon to an organization that fights as an Iranian proxy in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and has moved at least half its [fighting] force outside of Lebanon."

Speaking at an annual conference honoring late IDF chief Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, Eizenkot said that while Hezbollah "has gained substantial operational experience, it is paying a very heavy price for it, and this raises some serious questions about Lebanon."

"From our perspective, the simplest test is a test of capabilities. Today, when I look at the first ring of threats around Israel, the capability test suggests that the most significant threat is in the northern arena," he continued, referring to Lebanon.

"The second front, the Syrian front, has also undergone a very significant change," he continued. "Anyone who saw the maps of Islamic State's expansion can see substantial shrinkage. With that, in our generation, we will see the ISIS phenomenon continue. Although Islamic State was defeated, its ideology is still here."

Eizenkot added that the IDF is currently engaged in military and diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from establishing a foothold in Syria.

"An Iranian foothold in Syria is bad for Israel, for Syria and for Europe. In Syria itself there are currently more than 2,000 Iranian advisers and experts, some 10,000 combatants from Shiite organizations, close to 8,000 Hezbollah fighters who are fighting alongside [Syrian President Bashar] Assad," Eizenkot said.

Turning his attention to recent developments with Hamas, Eizenkot said: "To keep Gaza quiet, Hamas is trying to incite terrorist attacks from Judea and Samaria. The situation in the Gaza Strip has been complex since Operation Protective Edge [in 2014]. On the one hand, not one Israeli has been scratched, not one IDF soldier has been lightly wounded and the communities surrounding Gaza are flourishing. On the other hand, some 60 rockets have been fired, around 20 in the past month. This is unacceptable to us.

"We are making multiple efforts, openly and secretly, to stop this," he said. "I don't recall one time the IDF attacked anything other than terrorist targets. [The targets] were either weapons manufacturing plants, command centers or its [military] capabilities.

"Renegade [terrorist] groups have an interest in disrupting the quiet and dragging us into a campaign in the Gaza Strip," Eizenkot continued. "We are on high alert. There's no need to rush into anything. If we have to, the IDF has the means to achieve its objectives. Deterrence isn't measured or tested by one day, nor by daily newspapers."

The chief of staff also discussed the threat posed by underground terror tunnels dug from Gaza into Israel.

"We have developed a method that detects the underground attack tunnels into Israel and we are taking overt and covert steps to counter them," he said. "In recent months, we have invested increasingly more in the Palestinian arena, with the intention of influencing it," he said.

The volatile nature of the security situation and reduced margins of error along Israel's borders, Eizenkot explained, could quickly lead to an immediate escalation of hostilities on any front. "This necessitates high defensive capabilities, a small and alert army, and a policy of measured use of force," he said.

Meanwhile, the Shin Bet security agency said Monday that a joint operation with the IDF and Israel Police led to the November arrest of a five-member terrorist cell in Judea and Samaria.

Members of the cell had planned terrorist attacks under instruction from a Hamas operative based in Gaza, the Shin Bet said after a court-issued gag order was lifted.

The Hamas operative was identified as Abdallah Arar. According to the Shin Bet, Arar was involved in the 2005 abduction and murder of IDF soldier Sasson Nuriel, was exiled to the Gaza Strip in 2011 within the framework of the Gilad Schalit prisoner exchange and has since returned to terrorist activity.

According to the allegations, Arar directed Ala Salim, a Judea and Samaria resident, to form a cell, purchase an M16 rifle and immediately carry out a terrorist attack. Arar transferred Salim the funds to purchase the weapon, the Shin Bet said in a statement.

The post IDF chief: All of Israel's fronts are highly volatile appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.