For decades Egypt has seen Sinai through a military prism, taking an aggressive approach to an alienated local population. One person who did have some sway over Mr. Sisi was Egypt’s chief of defense staff, Mahmoud Hegazy. So far, American officials say, a relatively small number of fighters have returned. Many in the North Sinai refer to other Egyptians as “people of the valley,” as though they were citizens of another country. “Many Egyptians west of the Suez don’t consider the Bedouin to be fully Egyptian,” Mr. Miller, the analyst, said.

Source: New York Times November 25, 2017 17:39 UTC