US pushes for meeting between Egyptian President al-Sisi and Netanyahu, approval of gas deal

Al-Sisi largely avoided direct contact with Netanyahu during the Gaza conflict, and the two have not appeared together publicly since 2017.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The White House is working to arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, with U.S. officials viewing the effort as part of a broader strategy to rebuild Israel’s standing with key Arab partners.

Axios first reported the initiative, citing American and Israeli sources involved in the discussions.

U.S. officials say Netanyahu must approve a strategic gas deal and consider additional steps if he hopes to secure a meeting with Sisi.

According to an American source, Netanyahu has put together a team to assemble a package of incentives aimed at resetting the relationship.

The same official said the goal is to turn Egypt into a model for a warmer peace that could later extend to Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia.

Washington believes a summit could help shift regional diplomacy away from the narrow focus on Iran and toward economic cooperation.

A U.S. official said the administration sees significant potential in strengthening ties with Cairo, calling a proposed natural gas agreement between Israel and Egypt “a huge opportunity for Israel” that could deepen interdependence and support a more durable peace.

Although Egypt has been central to mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas, relations between the two leaders have remained strained.

Sisi largely avoided direct contact with Netanyahu during the Gaza conflict, and the two have not appeared together publicly since 2017.

They did speak by phone ahead of October’s peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, but Netanyahu ultimately did not attend, telling President Donald Trump that the meeting fell too close to the start of the holiday.

In parallel, Jared Kushner has encouraged Netanyahu to refocus Israel’s diplomacy on business partnerships and regional development.

A U.S. official familiar with Kushner’s message said that Israel needs to present a constructive agenda as the war winds down, arguing that regional states “do not want to talk about Iran all the time” but instead prefer to pursue investment and technology cooperation.

The official said Israel should leverage its strengths in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, natural gas, and water technology to advance those aims.

Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad visited Jerusalem in late October for meetings with Netanyahu and other officials. Within days, both governments signaled renewed interest in shaping a coordinated plan for Gaza’s future and stabilizing relations after months of tension.