For years, Egypt has been keen to maintain open lines of communication with various Lebanese factions, based on its pivotal role in the region and its commitment to achieving regional stability. In this context, the connection between Cairo and the Shiite alliance, especially “Hezbollah,” has not been severed. Communication has continued in various stages, away from the spotlight, within the framework of an Egyptian vision based on dialogue and seeking to calm tensions and prevent the expansion of conflicts in the region.
Sources familiar with the matter confirm that contacts between the Egyptian side and “Hezbollah” have not been severed, revealing a recent meeting between the Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, and the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, MP Muhammad Raad, as the Egyptian side is keen to develop and enhance this relationship.
It is worth noting that the so-called “Egyptian initiative,” which has not yet crystallized into a comprehensive initiative, is linked to concerns about fortifying the Gaza agreement in the first place, avoiding escalation in the region, and preventing Israel from continuing to wage wars, due to its impact on the countries of the entire region, and the negative consequences it leaves on Egypt in particular.
The sources indicate that the Egyptian move stems from the standpoint of protecting its national security and preserving its national interests. However, Egypt ultimately remains an Arab country and part of the Quintet Committee that contributed to the reshaping of power in Lebanon, including the election of the President of the Republic.
The sources believe that Egypt is not isolated from the Lebanese scene, and that “Hezbollah’s” relationship with Cairo is not new and has not been severed, but is characterized by continuous communication between the two parties.
In this context, the sources confirm that at the present stage there are no new developments in the relationship or in the proposals put forward after the visit of the Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati, as the visit of the Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly was purely economic in nature, and not related to any political files. While the visit of Abdel-Aati and the head of Egyptian intelligence was definitively linked to the “Egyptian initiative.”
Regarding the idea of freezing weapons, which was mentioned among the Egyptian ideas, the sources clarify that it was presented as preliminary ideas that are being refined to turn into an initiative that may pave the way for a broader initiative, and from this standpoint Cairo is holding meetings and dialogues with various parties. As for the official announcement of this initiative and its terms, it is still unclear so far, and may be linked to waiting for the appropriate conditions to announce it.
