Israel has warned its citizens against traveling to Sinai in anticipation of terrorist operations on the peninsula. It agreed to allow the Egyptian army to place a battalion in Taba, an Egyptian town on the border with Israel, for the first time since the peace agreement between the two countries was signed in 1979. The purpose is to prevent attempts by armed elements to carry out operations in Sinai or on the Egyptian-Israeli border. On Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement labeling the security situation in Sinai “very critical.” Also, Israel radio reported that authorities asked Israelis currently present in Sinai to return immediately, saying Israeli intelligence services have confirmed the existence of terrorist organizations in Sinai. The groups are trying to kidnap Israeli tourists, with the help of the local Bedouin tribes. It added that Israel approved the request after intelligence services obtained information about the possibility of terrorist operations in Eilat. The new battalion would join 14 other battalions in Sinai in preparation for the second phase of the so-called ‘Eagle' campaign to dismantle militant networks and terrorist organizations. The Israeli newspaper said groups include Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and others funded by Iran or linked to the Palestinian Hamas, which currently controls the Gaza Strip. Translated from the Arabic Edition
