Khaberni - The Egyptian artist and Senate member Yasser Galal sparked widespread controversy after a statement he made during his participation in the Oran International Festival for Arab Film in Algeria, discussing Algeria sending special forces to Egypt following the 1967 war to protect central Cairo area, which historians and social media users considered a clear historical error.
During his speech at the award ceremony, Yasser Galal said that his father told him that Algeria had sent paratroopers to Egypt after the war, following rumors of an Israeli plan to perform a landing in Tahrir Square for sabotage activities, adding: "I was raised to love Algeria and I will raise my children to love it... Long live Egypt and long live Algeria."
These statements triggered a wave of varied comments, where Egyptian writers denied the accuracy of what the artist stated, affirming that Algeria contributed forces on both the Egyptian and Syrian fronts during and after the War of Attrition, but did not deploy inside the Egyptian capital as mentioned in his narrative.
Others believed that Galal did not intend any harm or to promote false information, but rather wanted to express his appreciation for Algeria and its role in supporting Arab causes, although his enthusiasm led to a mix-up in the historical details.
In response to the criticisms, Yasser Galal posted a clarifying video on his official Facebook page, where he affirmed his deep respect for the Egyptian military institution, saying: "All respect and appreciation to our valiant armed forces, of which I am proud to have been a member during my military service, and no one can dispute Egypt's role in defending the Arab nation."
He added, clarifying: "I mentioned in my talk at the festival that my father told me Algeria sent symbolic forces after the '67 war to protect civilians following a rumor about an Israeli landing, and I only meant to point out the spirit of Arab solidarity during that era," emphasizing that the relationship between Egypt and Algeria is one of brotherhood and mutual respect throughout history.
He concluded his statement by saying: "Egypt's role towards its Arab brethren is clear, and so is the role of Arab countries, notably Algeria, in supporting Egypt which cannot be denied... The respect is preserved, and all respect and tribute to the fraternal Algerian people."
