After last year’s terror attack on Route 12 near Eilat, an attack that was linked to al-Qaeda, the roadway was closed to civilian motorists. Plans are underway to reopen the road but things will not return to the way they were prior to the attack which claimed eight lives.

There is now a high fence running along that portion of the Egyptian border; concrete walls have been positioned on the northern side of the roadway, blocking gunfire and visibility; as well as a very visible presence of an increased IDF force along the border area.

In last year’s fatal attack, gunfire and rockets were directed at military and civilian vehicles, including an Egged bus and the rescue chopper that was responding. A new IDF unit is completing preparations to take up position along the border along with advanced visual security devices, all geared towards creating new realities at what was an open border just a few months ago.

The daily HaMevaser reports that Israel has called on Egypt to increase patrols of border security personnel, but the vacuum that exists in Cairo today has resulted in that request falling on deaf ears.

Officials in the IDF Spokesman’s Office report that preparations are still underway towards opening the roadway to civilian vehicles, a roadway with new security realities to ensure safe travel in the area.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)