Two rockets were fired from Sinai into southern Israel over the weekend while IDF soldiers remain positioned along the border with their hands tied. Shrapnel from the 120mm Grad katyusha rockets were found in the Eilat and Mitzpei Ramon and Eilat areas. Moving IDF forces into Sinai would be viewed as a major infringement on Egyptian sovereignty and viewed as a provocative action by Cairo.
As Egyptians are about to vote to determine the character of its next government Israel continues to monitor the situation in Cairo with concern, realizing the peace agreement signed between Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat hangs in the balance. Officials are well aware that the election of a candidate aligned with Islamic fundamentalism will signal a radical change in Cairo and would most likely negatively impact the fragile situation that exists today, perhaps similar to the breakdown in diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey today.
Despite the rocket attacks, IDF Homefront Commander Major-General Eyal Eisenberg is opposed to connecting the area to the early warning detection system towards preserving Eilat’s reputation as a tourist city. Some of the Eilat area military bases remain on high alert against rocket attacks, especially the air force’s Uvda and Mitzpei Rimon bases.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Sounds like Chelm to me. Leaving the area as it is, not willing to consider it a danger zone. Considering the shaky situation in Egypt. Well this reminds me of the period right before the Yom Kipur war, there were hardly any soldiers in the Sinai desert, well not more then a few handfuls, because well nobody is going so dare attack us, and so why disturb the tourism revenue!
Ridiculous really, because one Jewish life lost chas vishulom is worth more then billions, trillions!