The covert alliance between Egypt and Israel on counterterrorism shows how the rise of ISIL and other jihadist groups have helped forge quiet partnerships between Israel and its longtime Arab adversaries. Israeli security officials say that their regional security concerns increasingly align with those of the Persian Gulf states. “ISIS has done so many horrible things in Egypt,” the official said, using another name for ISIL. An Israeli military spokesman declined to comment on the alliance or confirm the existence of Israeli military operations inside Egypt. Egypt, Israel and Hamas broadly began to tighten security cooperation two years ago, forming an unlikely alliance as ISIL’s offshoot in Sinai began to stage more sophisticated, sustained attacks.

Source: National Post February 05, 2018 17:37 UTC