The decision by the Biden administration announced at the end of January to withhold $130 million dollars in United States military aid to Egypt over human rights concerns has undoubtedly harmed relations between Cairo and Washington, Israeli observers have said.
The withheld funds represents 10 percent of the $1.3 billion that the U.S. earmarked for Egypt annually since 2017.
At the same time, Washington approved an enormous $2.5 billion defense sales agreement for Egypt, which includes advanced air defense radars and C-130 Super Hercules transport aircraft, according to Reuters.
“The harm is significant,” Col. (res.) Shaul Shay, former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council, told JNS.
“Practically, the weapons that the Egyptians wanted…
