Egyptian channel under fire for interviewing Israeli expert

The Egyptian Nile News satellite TV station enmeshed itself in controversy on Tuesday when, in a break with long-standing Egyptian media syndicate rules, it aired a phone interview with an Israeli analyst on the Kerem Shalom terrorist attack, al-Ahram reported on Thursday.

The Israeli, identified by Israel’s Channel 10 as Voice of Israel Arabic correspondent Eyal Alima, called for Israel and Egypt to work together to prevent future terror attacks in the Sinai. He also added that the attack probably didn’t involve Palestinians or originate from Gaza.

The National Association for Change, a left-leaning umbrella group of NGOs, condemned the appearance and called for the ouster of the information minister.

The powerful Egyptian Press Syndicate’s platform includes opposition to professional normalization with Israel. Nile News director Sameh Ragaey told al-Ahram that the appearance of an Israeli was due to a “wrong decision” by the program director.

In 2011, Nile TV interviewed captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit upon his release, but before he was allowed to enter Israel. In that case Israelis raised a protest, calling the interview exploitative.

Despite the 1979 Camp David peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, Israel is generally viewed as an enemy by Egyptians. Since the Egyptian revolution in 2011, calls have increased to revise the peace treaty.