Egypt’s deal with Israel to permanently station troops along a troubled stretch of their border in the Sinai Peninsula represents a qualitative leap in relations that caps years of growing security co-operation between the former foes, analysts say.
The deal is an amendment of the security section of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty that regulates the number of troops and type of equipment Egyptian troops can have in the Sinai Peninsula, the main theatre of military operations in the three full-fledged wars the two fought between 1948 and 1973.
Only policemen with light arms are allowed in the section of Sinai bordering Israel and the Gaza strip, according to the treaty.
The analysts say the deal was the fruition of years of negotiations between the two nations that were successfully concluded when Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in September, the first public meeting between leaders of the two countries in more than a decade.
The deal, according to the analysts, enshrines what has been the case on the ground for years but on an ad hoc basis. Israel has in recent years allowed Egypt on a case-by-case basis the deployment of troops, armour and air assets to use against militants fighting security forces in Sinai’s north-eastern corner.
The enhanced Egyptian security presence there also resulted in the curtailment of activity by arms and human traffickers as well as denying Egyptian extremists a safe haven in Gaza, which has since 2007 been ruled by the militant Hamas group.
“It is the first time in nearly five decades that we have troops permanently deployed along the border with Israel,” said military analyst Sameer Farag, a retired army general and a veteran of the 1973 Mideast war.
“It was President El Sisi who negotiated this deal; and Israel agreed because its plate is full facing off with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
Egypt’s military announced the deal on Monday, saying it was part of efforts to safeguard the country’s national security and secure the border in the “strategic” north-eastern corner of Sinai.
“The joint (Egyptian-Israeli) military committee has succeeded through a co-ordination meeting with the Israeli side to amend the security agreement to increase the number of border guards and their capabilities on the border area at Rafah,” Egypt’s chief military spokesman wrote on his Facebook page on Monday.
“This comes in the context of an international agreement; and reinforces the foundations of security to deal with changes and variables.”
Neither Egypt nor Israel have disclosed the number of troops that would be deployed on the Egyptian side of the border or the military hardware they will have.
But the deal was widely viewed in Egypt as a milestone in relations with Israel and a diplomatic success.
“The agreement is clearly overdue but remains a monumental event. It’s very rare in international law to see a valid treaty being amended,” said Gehad Auda, a political science professor at Egypt’s Helwan university.
Egypt became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, but relations between the two nations had for years been branded a “cold peace” because of the scarcity of contact between the two peoples.
However, security co-ordination between the two has grown steadily closer in recent years, mostly in the fight against Islamic militants.
Relations became warmer on other fronts, too.
Israel in September lifted a cap of 1,200 Israelis allowed daily to go through its Taba border crossing into Egypt’s Sinai; its beaches and pristine and marine life-rich Red Sea waters have traditionally attracted Israeli tourists.
Last month, Egypt authorised its national carrier to fly to Israel after decades in which the government used Air Sinai, a subsidiary of EgyptAir, to fly unmarked aircraft between Cairo and Ben Gurion Airport on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.
'Cheb%20Khaled'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKhaled%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBelieve%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
