Unraveling Sisi’s Warning: How Egypt’s Past ‘1967 Shock’ Still Resonates Today

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has compared the current situation in his country to the situation after the defeat in the 1967 war, in a statement that caused widespread reactions on social media.

In June 1967, the Middle East witnessed the Six Day War between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors. In Egypt, this war is called the “67 Setback” and in Israel it is called the Six Day War. One consequence of this was the outbreak of the October War in 1973, before Egypt regained the Sinai Peninsula under a peace treaty with Israel signed in 1979 during the era of late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat under American sponsorship.

CC Dr While celebrating the anniversary of October 6, 1973, when the Egyptian army launched a surprise attack on Israeli forces in the Sinai, he said: “What we are seeing now in Egypt is almost the same situation it was experiencing after the 1967 defeat. “

He referred to the 1973 war, adding that military experts “did not expect Egypt to survive the war because of the bar lev line and (Israel’s) military superiority.” However, “the Egyptian people refused defeat, challenged.” themselves, and won the victory… won a precious victory with the blood of the Egyptians.”

He continued: “President Sadat gave much of his life and blood to the idea of ​​peace, which was ahead of his time.”

Al-Sisi added, “With the same spirit, will and determination and despite the difficult circumstances, we will overcome the challenges and achieve what we want.”

On social media, many comments focused on Sisi comparing the situation to what the country went through after the war with Israel, which some saw as an admission that “the situation is now a shock”, while others said he wanted to remind the most difficult situation. Potential to overcome the crisis.

Egypt has faced allegations of abuse of presidential opponents and human rights activists since the army ousted the late Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in 2014, and authorities have launched a sweeping arrest campaign that includes Islamists and liberals.

In addition, Egypt, with a population of 105 million, a third of whom live below the poverty line, is witnessing the worst economic crisis in its history after inflation reached record levels, driven by deflation. local currency and foreign exchange deficit in a country that imports most of its food needs.

Some commented on Sisi’s speech that the current situation was “a crisis without a war” and another said: “He himself admitted it was the height of a miracle.” Another wrote: “What we are in (what we are living in now) we have never seen in our lives (we have never seen it before), not even in the days of calamity and war.”

Another considered that he was talking about the current situation “in all organizations, institutions and in all areas to free itself from a shock and a shock… The current situation is completely different from the debacle of 1967 because at that time there were Sinai occupiers and almost daily clashes and People were cut off from their daily power because (of the war effort … however, employees and workers were able to survive.”

On the other hand, another commentary states that after the defeat, Egypt “undertook economic reforms and began building up the army after Sadat pursued a new political approach to victory.”

Another wrote: “As we survived the ordeal of 1967, we conquered all odds, difficulties and creative chaos.”

It is worth noting that in the early years of his rule, Sisi was called “the savior” because he overthrew Islamists brought to power by revolution, but they lost popularity as many monopolized power and applied harsh pressure. the law

The “100 Million Health” campaign launched by CC in the past years contributed to its popularity among the low-income class, as the campaign contributed to the treatment of millions of patients.

However, at the economic level, experts criticize the giant projects undertaken by the CC, especially the new administrative capital, which cost about $58 billion, as well as high-speed trains, bridges and roads, which they believe have no return. Destroys the state budget and doubles the debt.

However, these projects affected Sisi’s supporters in different areas, and most Egyptian television channels carried the slogan “New Republic” on the left side of their screens, in celebration and support of the change the country was witnessing, according to the president’s vision.

For many years, the Sisi relied on financing provided by the International Monetary Fund through loans or deposits from Gulf allies.

But the Egyptian president indicated, last Sunday, that Cairo may have to reevaluate the expanded loan program if international organizations do not take into account the exceptional regional challenges facing the country.

Al-Sisi said that the current program is being implemented in a very difficult regional and international situation, which has a very negative impact on the whole world and a possible economic recession in the coming years.

The fiscal package, which Egypt signed with the IMF in March, calls for reducing subsidies on fuel, electricity and other goods and allowing the Egyptian currency to follow the determinants of supply and demand, a move that has sparked popular discontent.

The fund said Thursday it is working with Egyptian authorities on what needs to be done to expand the scope of social protection programs and ensure their effectiveness.