The situation seems to repeat itself before yomim tovim but once again, Israeli counter-terror authorities are urging Israelis to distance themselves from Sinai, especially during the yomim tovim, a time when thousands opt to cross the Taba border crossing to Egypt.

Egyptian officials report that they apprehended an al-Qaeda terror cell last week, terrorists who entered Egypt from Gaza, planning to abduct Israeli visitors to Sinai during Rosh Hashanah. A manhunt is continuing for a second cell, Israeli media reports indicate. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu telephoned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to thank him for ongoing efforts to prevent such attacks from occurring.

Despite the good news, Israeli intelligence officials are now speaking of “concrete” and “immediate” threats to Israelis in Egypt, adding there are at least 10 terror cells operating in the area, with affiliations with al-Qaeda, Hizbullah and Hamas, some including terrorists already familiar with the turf of the Sinai Peninsula area.

Intelligence officials explain they are working to abduct Israelis from Egypt, to bring them to Hamas-controlled Gaza, a move that would shift the balance of Hamas’ negotiating power against Israel, and shift international media focus to Gaza.

Intelligence officials report terrorists have been in Sinai for weeks, studying the area and observing the actions of Israelis in resort areas, watching and learning in preparation for the strike.

The terrorists in custody admitted to Egyptian officials that they hid weapons and explosives in the area near el-Arish. Officials point out that local Bedouins assist terror cells, providing them with logistical assistance in the area, working with them to familiarize themselves with the terrain, as well as providing contacts to purchase a commercial vehicle, weapons and explosives.

According to Brigadier-General Nitzan Nuriel, who heads the counter-terrorism bureau, the announced travel advisory is part of the standard practice of renewing the warnings twice annually, before Pessach and Rosh Hashanah, but warned in the case of Sinai, the level of the alert is above that of other areas, including the Cashmere region of India. Nuriel explained terrorists in Sinai are working in earnest to abduct Israelis to Gaza.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)