Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will not travel to Washington for talks at the White House as long as the agenda includes US President Donald Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza, Reuters quotes two Egyptian security sources as saying.
Egypt has said Trump had extended an open invitation to Sisi to visit the White House earlier this month. A US official said no date for such a visit has been set. The Egyptian presidency and foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty visited Washington this week. The Egyptian sources said one aim of his trip was to avert a potentially awkward presidential visit.
According to the Egyptian sources, it was made apparent to Abdelatty during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the displacement plan would be on the table if Sisi visited.
Abdelatty responded that such a meeting would be of no use, and that any discussion should be over Egypt’s own plan for reconstruction of Gaza, the sources said. Egypt has said its plan would “ensure Palestinians remain on their land”.
The Egyptian sources said Rubio did not repeat to Abdelatty previous threats by Trump to withdraw military and other aid, though he did urge Egypt to consider Trump’s plan.
