Unlike the national government’s counter-terrorism bureau, which is only empowered to recommend that citizens refrain from traveling to Sinai during the upcoming Yomim Tovim, the IDF has released a direct order to all compulsory and career soldiers and officers that travel to Sinai at this time is forbidden by military order.

Chief of Operations on the IDF’s General Staff, Colonel Amir Abulafia, issued the order, which includes soldiers serving their compulsory service and those signed-on as career personnel, soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers alike.

Egyptian consular and foreign ministry officials report that the counter-terrorism bureau advisory is fine, since it is only a warning, but the IDF’s move is a “diplomatic matter” since it violates the agreement signed between Israel and Egypt, banning Israel from prohibiting travel from Israel to Egypt. This is the reason the counter-terror bureau has not closed the Taba Crossing, but officials are probing for a legal loophole that will permit just that, with officials most concerned that thousands of Israelis appear unwilling to heed the warnings despite mounting credible intelligence information of a planned terror attack in Sinai against Israelis.

The Egyptian diplomatic officials acknowledge they have not received any official notice of such a move, but if the IDF order indeed so, “there will be diplomatic ramifications” they explain.

The IDF order was distributed via the military’s intra-net, reaching all branches of the IDF. The order also applies to civilians employed by the military.

Soldiers wishing to enter certain countries must obtain permission in advance. The list includes Belarus, Jordan, Egypt (Sinai), Persian Gulf States, Morocco, Cuba, Russia, and Tunisia.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)