Sinai: Egypt's Linchpin, Gaza's Lifeline, Israel's Nightmare

by Mohannad Sabry

Enclosed by the Suez Canal and bordering Gaza and Israel, Egypt’s rugged Sinai Peninsula has been the cornerstone of the Egyptian–Israeli peace accords, yet its internal politics and security have remained largely under media blackout. While the international press descended on the capital Cairo in January 2011, Sinai’s armed rebellion was ignored. The regime lost control of the peninsula in a matter of days and, since then, unprecedented chaos has reigned and the Islamist insurgency has gathered pace. In this crucial analysis, Mohannad Sabry argues that Egypt's shortsighted security approach has continually proven to be a failure. Decades of flawed policies have exacerbated immense social and economic problems, and maintained a superficial stability under which arms trafficking, the smuggling tunnels, and militancy could silently thrive―and finally prevail following the overthrow of Mubarak. Sinai is vital reading for scholars, journalists, policy makers, and all those concerned by the plunge of one of the Middle East's most critical regions into turmoil.

Genres: Egypt, Politics, History, Middle East, Israel, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is very little in depth writing done on the history of the Sinai Peninsula. Mohannad Sabry, a journalist who has experience working in the Sinai, paints a depressing picture of how terrorism has flourished in this no-man's land between the Nile valley and Israel. Sabry should be credited with undertaking the difficult task of telling the story of the Sinai's inhabitants. Sabry's book should be required reading for all those studying the Sinai. In my opinion he is equally disdainful of the Egyptian military and the Islamists whose extremism has undermined traditional bedouin culture of the Sinai. The book overwhelmingly focuses on the North Sinai and the lack of development that has contributed to the precarious situation in the region.

I would have loved to have a better discussion of the tribal politics and the power structures of the Bedouin, but that is for my own interests.

[Bettie]

They told us that 'journalism is over in Sinai'. They [said] 'the only reporting we can do is to follow the army's story. Anything else is a prison wish'.

The Egyptian government has barred journalists from reporting on events in the troubled Sinai peninsula.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6. Sabry does really important work (at no small risk to himself) ferreting out what the hell is happening in Northern Sinai. This books is more trees than forest, though, and as such I would only recommend it to readers who have some particular interest in the situation.

[ⲕ ރ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mohannad please never stop writing
Thanks for this amazing book❤️