Whether or not Egypt agreed to recognize and make peace with Israel, the area east of the Sinai is, and will always remain, “occupied Palestine,” a top advisor to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi said. In an interview with an Egyptian newspaper, Seif a-Devila said that it was the fault of former President Hosni Mubarak, who “did a free service for the Zionists” by signing a treaty with Israel, and agreeing to recognize it. He said that the situation was likely to remain like this “forever.”

a-Devila added that the Camp David Accords had caused Egypt to lose sovereignty in Sinai. The agreements give preference to Israeli security needs over Egyptian ones, thus serve only Israel. He added that he hoped to bring up the issue in the international community, to seek ways to “free ourselves” from the agreement.