ARAB-EGYPT RELATIONS: PROSPECTS FOR RECONCILIATION

This analytical study examines the state of relations between Egypt and other Arab countries following the Camp David Accords and assesses the prospects for reconciliation during the mid-1980s. The article explores the historical context of Egypt's isolation from the Arab world after its peace treaty with Israel and analyzes the evolving positions of key Arab actors. The research investigates the factors that initially led to Egypt's ostracization and examines how changing regional dynamics, including the Iran-Iraq war and internal Arab politics, have created new possibilities for reconciliation. The study assesses the economic, strategic, and political costs of continued Egyptian isolation for both Egypt and the broader Arab world. The article also evaluates various reconciliation scenarios and identifies the conditions necessary for meaningful reintegration of Egypt into Arab regional frameworks.

Egypt's relations with the Arab world underwent fundamental transformation after the Camp David Accords, with this article providing a comprehensive analysis of reconciliation prospects during the mid-1980s. The research begins by examining the historical context of Egypt's central role in Arab politics, tracing its leadership position from the Nasser era through the October War to the dramatic break following the peace treaty with Israel. The analysis explores the immediate aftermath of Camp David, investigating how Arab states organized the diplomatic and economic boycott of Egypt and established alternative regional frameworks that excluded the traditionally dominant Arab power. The article examines the evolving regional context, analyzing how the Iran-Iraq war, Lebanese civil war, and other Middle Eastern developments created both obstacles and opportunities for Egyptian-Arab reconciliation. The study investigates the economic dimensions of the rift, assessing the costs to Egypt of lost Arab aid and labor markets and the costs to other Arab states of excluding Egyptian military and diplomatic capabilities. Based on the comprehensive assessment, the article analyzes various reconciliation scenarios and identifies the key actors, issues, and sequencing considerations that would determine successful reintegration of Egypt into Arab regional systems. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of regional leadership and ostracization in Middle Eastern politics and contribute to understanding how fundamental policy divergences can be managed within regional frameworks.