Al-Sisi's account of the bilateral conversation with Netanyahu

Elaborating on the details of his direct meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu since 2013, the Egyptian president said that the Israeli prime minister asked about the reasons for arming and strengthening the capabilities of the Egyptian army in one of these meetings, and he also emphasized that Cairo's military power is being developed with the aim of maintaining peace, regional stability and deterring threats.

According to the report of Ambassador Arjan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced on Thursday at the graduation ceremony of a new group of students of the Police Academy, the direct question of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, about the reasons for the continued arming of the Egyptian army and the modernization of its military capabilities.

El-Sisi said that Netanyahu asked him during one of the bilateral meetings: "Why are you arming yourself?"

The President of Egypt added that in response to this question, he firmly told Netanyahu that he never considered the power of the Zionist regime a threat to Egypt and he expects that the other side will not consider the power of Egypt a threat to itself.

Referring to the conditions of the region, he emphasized that Egypt is in an unstable region and needs power to maintain regional peace and stability.

The President of Egypt also responded to the claim of one of the officials of the Zionist regime that Egypt does not attack this regime because of concerns about Sinai, and said: Is it reasonable to continue to deal with this mentality after 50 years of peace that one of the parties may have ambitions or undeclared goals?

Al-Sisi went on to mention other details of his direct meetings with Netanyahu since 2013 and said that he has always emphasized that the formation of an independent Palestinian state is the main key and a real opportunity to achieve comprehensive stability and real integration of the Zionist regime in the Middle East.

He added that Egypt's strategic approach is based on strengthening the country's military and law enforcement capabilities, and having power is in the framework of deterrence against threats and protection of peace achievements.