Sisi: Egyptians do not accept defeat or forget revenge

CAIRO – 25 April 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi praised Wednesday the Egyptian people and army personnel in a speech marking the 36th anniversary of the Sinai Liberation Day.

Sisi said that the experience of Sinai proved that the Egyptian people do not forget their revenge and “do not give in to defeat,” adding that Egyptians are capable of obliging others to respect them, Sisi said.

“Successive wars [against the nation] and difficult peace negotiations taught us that rights backed by force will eventually dominate and emerge victorious,” Sisi said. He added that Egyptians do not give up their lands and are capable of protecting their lands through peace and war.

April 25 marks the liberation of the Sinai Peninsula from Israeli occupation in 1982 following the Egypt-Israel peace treaty signed in Washington in 1979. The treaty was signed by Sadat and then-Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Israel had occupied Sinai during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Sisi said that the full liberation of Sinai came as a result of Egyptians’ suffering, sacrifices, and patience. He also praised the role of the Armed Forces’ courageous men, who were “up to the level of responsibility.”

“Following 36 years of Sinai liberation, we need to review what we have accomplished, and where we are heading,” Sisi said.

“Ambitions in Sinai have not ended,” Sisi said, adding that “Egypt faced for years fierce attacks from terrorist groups supported by some states and organized quarters.”

There is a large network of terrorist groups that could make use of the state of political chaos that struck the region in the last few years, Sisi said. “This network managed to occupy large lands in some sisterly Arab countries, and their delusions led them to think they can do the same in Egypt,” Sisi added.

Sisi said that the Egyptian people should be proud of the army and police personnel’s accomplishments, including trapping terrorists and limiting their movement.

In coincidence with marking the anniversary of Sinai’s Liberation, the Armed Forces issued a statement Wednesday following up on the updates of the Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018 that kicked off in February to eliminate terrorists in Sinai.

Around 13 dangerous terrorists were killed in North and Central Sinai, while 173 others were arrested, according to the statement.


Terrorist leader in Central Sinai, Nasser Abu Zaqoul, was killed during an exchange of fire with the Third Field Army – Army Spokesperson’s Official Facebook Page

On Tuesday, Sisi laid a wreath of roses on the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, and read “Al-Fatiha” (the first chapter of the Quran) for former President Anwar Al-Sadat’s, which is an Islamic ritual performed to pay tribute for a person.

Sadat went to war with Israel in October 1973. The October War was fought by a coalition of Arab states, led by Egypt and Syria, against Israel in Sinai and the Golan Heights.