Egyptian MP: Netanyahu mediated between Obama and Sisi following the 2013 military coup

The Egyptian MP said that he recommended Egyptian decision-makers to ask Israel to mediate between Egypt and the US to convince Obama to recognize Sisi's regime.

By MAAYAN GROISMAN
Updated: FEBRUARY 28, 2016 11:17
Obama and Sisi (photo credit: REUTERS)
Obama and Sisi
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Egyptian Member of Parliament, Tawfik Okasha, has revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mediated between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Barack Obama following the military coup that took place in Egypt in July 2013.
On his show "Egypt Today" that was broadcast Saturday night on the Farareen TV channel, Okasha called for normalization with Israel, claiming that "Egypt is a very beautiful bride for Israel, and if Israel does not marry Egypt, it will destroy it." He emphasized that today "Israel is trying to besiege Egypt in different arenas."
Regarding Israel's mediation between Egypt and the American administration, the Egyptian MP said: "After the 2013 military coup, I was invited to a discussion regarding the American refusal to recognize the newly-installed Egyptian regime. I told them that we should communicate with the Israelis and ask them to mediate between us and the American administration over US recognition of Sisi's regime."
Okasha added that after his opinion was accepted and Egypt had communicated with Israel, Netanyahu traveled to meet Obama and convinced him to recognize the July 2013 military coup.
On July 3, 2013, then-Egyptian army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, led a coalition to topple elected President Mohammad Morsi following mass anti-Morsi demonstrations in which protestors blasted the Muslim Brotherhood.
Following the military takeover, the American administration decided to suspend military and economic aid to Egypt, describing Morsi's ousting as a military coup and refusing to recognize Sisi's regime as legal.
Okasha's remarks came several days after he hosted the Israeli ambassador to Cairo, Haim Koren, at his house, arousing outrageous reactions from Egyptian politicians. On Friday, Israeli TV Channel 1 revealed that during the meeting, Okasha asked Koren to organize a meeting with Netanyahu for him to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.