Trump's Threats to Cut Aid to Egypt and Jordan Could Cause Historic Diplomatic Crisis
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to freeze aid to Egypt and Jordan if they don't accept refugees from the Gaza Strip constitutes the worst crisis in both the countries' relationships with the United States since the peace agreements signed with Israel in 1979 and 1994, respectively.
Egypt has said repeatedly – both through official statements and through reports in the state-owned media – that despite Trump's threats, it will not cooperate with any effort to deport Palestinians from Gaza.
This stance was reaffirmed when Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi's visit to Washington, which had been slated to take place within the next few weeks, was postponed until further notice. And Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, who is currently in Washington, refused to hold a press conference or even make a statement, an unusual decision considering the visit's stature.
In statements to the media, Al-Sissi has stressed the need to rebuild Gaza without removing its residents. This stance has widespread public support in Egypt.
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Even though Trump's statements are often viewed impromptu or half-baked, Egyptian sources said his statements don't leave Al-Sissi any wiggle room. Aside from the fact that the government objects in principle to uprooting the Palestinians, it also cannot publicly agree to any plan that will move hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula, only to later spread throughout the country, or to other countries.
A summit with ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, discussing Trump's Gaza plan in the beginning of the month.Credit: AFP/KHALED DESOUKI
"The Egyptians can't tolerate this," sources said. "Egypt cooperates with evacuating hospital patients [from the Gaza Strip], and will even allow the exit of armed men or the exile of Hamas commanders, if the organization agrees to this. But not by force and not by threats."
In Cairo, preparations are continuing for the Arab summit later this month, with the goal of presenting a united front against Trump's plan. As Haaretz has previously reported, the summit will include direct and indirect talks by national leaders on the issue of other Arab countries giving an economic safety net to Egypt and Jordan, should Trump in fact cut off American aid.
The amounts discussed are certainly manageable for the wealthy Arab states. For instance, America gives Egypt $1.3 billion in military aid and another $200 million in economic aid. But it also provides spare parts and maintenance for advanced weaponry made in the U.S.
American pressure on Jordan is likely to be much more significant, and more effective, as Jordan is much more economically vulnerable than Egypt.
America gives Jordan $1.4 billion a year, which is roughly what it gives Egypt. But since Jordan is a much smaller country with a much smaller population, this aid constitutes a much bigger percentage of the country's gross domestic product.
Jordan's King Abdullah and U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House, on Tuesday.Credit: Alex Brandon/AP
Trump's meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, which took place Tuesday evening, was tense. At the start of the meeting, Trump reiterated that Gazans should move to Jordan and Egypt. "I believe we'll have a parcel of land in Jordan, I believe we'll have a parcel of land in Egypt," he said. But Abdullah responded that he will decide on the matter according to his own country's interests.
In advance of Abdullah's meeting with Trump, Jordanian officials and the state-owned media reiterated their opposition to any expulsion of the Palestinians. Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi said the solution to the Palestinian issue must be implemented on Palestinian land, and stressed Jordan's vehement opposition to any attempt to resettle Palestinians outside their territory.