Amira Ibrahim looks at the complicated security situation in Sinai According to an Egyptian military source, last week's Taba attacks "can't just be blamed on a 'security failure'. When your hands are tied, it is really complicated to specify the enemy and decide the most efficient security plan. The terrain there is difficult, and so are the people and the politics surrounding it," he said. The story of Sinai's security is indeed complicated. Last week's blasts were the most violent incident in the 22 years since Egypt regained sovereignty over the peninsula on 25 April 1982. The 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel established a special security system to supervise and control the area; Sinai was divided into sections A, B and C. The 58km wide Section A lies to the right of the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Suez. Section B spans from eastern Al-Arish in the north to Sharm El-Sheikh in the south; with a maximum width of 100km. While Section A is controlled by fully armed military troops, and section B by border guard troops, section C is controlled by police units and no heavy arms are allowed. Last week's events took place in Section C, which spans the area from Rafah to Taba, and then down the western bank of the Gulf of Aqaba to Sharm El-Sheikh. The two nations, along with the United States, also agreed to finance a Multinational Forces and Observers (MFO) operation to operate checkpoints, reconnaissance patrols and observation centres along the international borders inside section C. The MFO consists of three infantry battalions, as well as Italian naval units at the Sharm El-Sheikh port, and French helicopters for periodical checks at Al-Goura, Ras Al-Naqab and Nuweiba. The military source said, "because of the area's rough geographical nature, the crossing points for the EgyptianIsraeli borders were established at the top and bottom of the peninsula. The northern point at Rafah works as the main gate for Palestinians to enter and exit their land. Israeli tourists mainly use the southern point at Taba." Egyptian pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, use a port in Nuweiba, which is also occasionally used by both Israelis and Jordanians. Over the past two decades, only a few security problems have arisen. Every now and then, Israel claims to have discovered secret tunnels used to provide the Palestinian resistance with weapons. Egyptian police, on the other hand, are constantly operating large- scale campaigns meant to stem drug smuggling originating from Israel. Most Sinai roads feature frequent checkpoints, and vehicles crossing the Suez Canal from Sinai usually have to wait in long queues as they wait to be searched for drugs. But with plenty of mountainous passages, the area is tough to completely secure. According to the military source, "fighting drug smuggling and cultivation is a tough task that can only be done with the help of the armed forces. The same can be said for combating other illegal activities, such as illegal penetration across the borders of both countries." The problem, then, is that in section C, no military troops are allowed. Last September, Israeli authorities detained seven Egyptians who illegally entered Israel via Sinai, and handed them over to the Egyptian authorities. Another six Egyptian students are currently in custody; Israel claims they illegally penetrated the borders and were planning to commit violent acts against the Jewish state. "No definite conclusions," meanwhile, "have been reached as to whether the terrorists who carried out the Taba explosions had penetrated from Israel or not," said a security source who asked for anonymity. Following the bombings, an emergency security plan went into effect. Extra troops were moved in to guard hotels and tour sites. All roads leading to Taba and Nuweiba, where the blasts occurred, were closed; security barriers were set up several kilometres ahead of the entrances to the two towns. The security source said it was unreasonable to blame the Taba attacks on the general security dynamic in place in the peninsula. "South Sinai can be described as one of the region's most secure areas, especially when you consider the presence of the MFO, and the fact that President Mubarak spends long periods of time in Sharm El-Sheikh, and even holds international summits and meetings in the city. Besides, Sharm El-Sheikh and Dahab also host international guests in official and unofficial capacities all year round." Security sources said they would not consider providing Israeli tourists in particular with extra protection. "This would be a load, particularly with the massive numbers of Israeli tourists visiting Taba and Nuweiba on weekends and during annual holidays." Extra security, however, has been put into place at all Egyptian airports. "We are confident about the way the security system in Egyptian airports works," said Major General Magdi El-Waziri, who heads the Aviation Ministry's security department. "During emergencies, it is normal to put tougher procedures into effect, even those exceeding the requirements of international security criteria. This does not mean we were operating at less than standard security levels before." Periodic checks by both international civil aviation bodies as well as American authorities, he said, have consistently proven this.
