Apr 16, 2012

Security in Sinai

David DolanBy David Dolan
DDolan.com

Contact Amazon

Israeli government leaders have given permission to their Egyptian counterparts to station additional security forces in the Sinai Peninsula. Israel's approval was needed due to a provision in the Camp David peace treaty that was brokered by US President Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s. The accord states that Egypt cannot move soldiers or police forces into the Sinai without prior Israeli approval. It also states that Israel cannot initiate any military operations in the strategic area, which had been under Israeli control after IDF forces captured the Sinai during the 1967 Six Day war.

Sinai gas pipeline explosion

The additional Egyptian security forces are being sent to the Sinai in order to halt a wave of terror attacks upon a pipeline that ferrets Egyptian natural gas to Israel and Jordan. Egyptian officials say local Bedouin Arabs are being paid by Iran to blow up the pipeline, which has been attacked and temporarily closed down fourteen times over the past year. Several rocket attacks have also been launched upon Israeli cities from the Sinai, as was a major terrorist assault that left eight Israelis dead last August.



Related Links
Militants kill two Egyptian policemen in Sinai; Suez oil facility attacked again • Haaretz
Egypt's Suleiman: Israel may consider occupying Sinai • YnetNews
Israel's Pinnacle Well Will Begin Producing Gas in July • Fox Business
Sinai Terrorism Heats Up, Kills 2 Egyptian Soldiers • Arutz Sheva
Top contenders fight to stay in Egypt election • Reuters