Is Egypt threatening Israel? Why is the Egyptian army intensifying

[Matthew]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVpVbJyoRSw

IDF Lt. Col. Eli Dekel, Retired, discusses whether Egypt’s military build-up poses a threat to Israel.

Dekel served in the Intelligence branch of the IDF for 20 years, specializing in geographical intelligence, which researches military and civilian infrastructure systems and analyzes the significance of concurrent infrastructure development in terms of the state of the nation. In the following discussion Dekel paints a general picture of the Egyptian military, surveying its military’s buildup and infrastructure development since 2007, focusing especially on the rise to power of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in 2013. Dekel analyzes, inter alia, the following infrastructure systems: accelerated development of bridges and tunnels in the Suez Canal area; the construction of a highway network in Sinai; significant expansion of the logistical framework in Sinai; the establishment of emergency fuel reserves, primarily in the Suez Canal area; expansion of military airports and ports and tunnels excavated for storing strategic weapon systems along the Suez Canal.

An analysis of the military build-up and the development of the infrastructure systems in the Sinai and the Canal front, leads Dekel to the conclusion that the Egyptian Army’s focus is on preparing a theatre of war against Israel in Sinai. By contrast, the Egyptian Army is barely engaged in preparation for potential threats from such actors as Libya, Ethiopia. Turkey and Iran.
In his seminar Dekel explains the reasons underlying Egypt’s preparations for military conflict with Israel, and discusses the capabilities it has developed following the spate of military materiel procurements and the development of military infrastructure systems.

[Matthew]

background:

>Work on four new tunnels that run underneath the new and old Suez Canals is almost done.

>President Abdel Fattah El Sisi will open the new tunnels on October 6, local media reported. The date marks the start of Egypt’s war with Israel in 1973.
https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/egypt-gets-ready-to-open-new-suez-canal-tunnels-in-pictures-1.767206

>The Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel is 1640 metre long tunnel, for cars, under the Suez Canal, at Shallufa. The tunnel is named for Ahmed Hamdi, an Egyptian engineer and General killed in action during the Yom Kippur War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Hamdi_Tunnel

>EGYPT SEEKS RUSSIAN ARMS THAT COULD UNDERMINE TREATY WITH ISRAEL
https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Report-Egypt-seeks-Russian-arms-that-could-undermine-treat-with-Israel-344465

>Moscow will deliver MiG-29 fighters to Egypt on schedule
https://sputniknews.com/military/201702201050853411-russia-egypt-mig-29

>Egypt’s Armed Forces have reportedly signed a deal with the Russian Rosoboronexport armaments company for the sale and delivery of 46 attack helicopters.
https://www.madamasr.com/en/2016/01/04/news/u/military-signs-deal-with-russia-for-46-attack-helicopters

>Egypt, Russia sign Ka-52K training agreement
http://www.janes.com/article/63493/egypt-russia-sign-ka-52k-training-agreement

>Russian State Technologies Corporation says it is holding pre-contract delivery negotiations for the supply of the Antey 2500 and Buk missile systems ordered by Egypt in 2014
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/11/24/egypt-russia-negotiating-missile-sale/76330914

>Moscow will likely install equipment on Egypt's Mistral helicopter carriers.
https://sputniknews.com/military/201606161041420399-russia-egypt-mistral-equipment

>Russia, Egypt seal preliminary arms deal worth $3.5 billion
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-egypt-arms-idUSKBN0HC19T20140917

>Russia and Egypt have “already initialed or signed” a $3 billion arms deal
http://www.defaiya.com/news/Regional%20News/Egypt/2016/08/09/egypt-russia-initialed-or-signed-3-billion-arms-deal

>A growing rapprochement between Egypt and Russia is seeing a return to a Cold War era in which Cairo was Moscow’s closest and most strategic Arab ally.
https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/russia-and-egypt-grow-closer-as-kremlin-asserts-regional-influence-1.782848

>Russian and Egyptian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi signed a bilateral agreement on comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/10/russia-egypt-strategic-cooperation.html#ixzz5bUPdK1lC

>Egypt moves ahead with purchase of Russian arms despite US warnings
>Russian media reported that Egypt has received five Sukhoi Su-35 advanced combat aircraft despite US threats to sanction Cairo over the Russian deal.
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/03/egypt-us-tension-sanctions-russia-arms-deal.html

>Egyptian government's continued refusal to accept comprehensive international inspections of its nuclear energy program, has increased concerns in Washington that Egypt could seek its own nuclear deterrent
>This theory is substantiated by the IAEA's discovery of highly enriched uranium at Ishas
http://thediplomat.com/2017/08/the-egypt-north-korea-connection

>Russia, Egypt sign deal to construct nuclear power plant
https://www.dw.com/en/russia-egypt-sign-deal-to-construct-nuclear-power-plant/a-41745535