CAIRO: Israel's National Security Council (NSC) has called for military action in the Sinai Peninsula because of rising instability in the region. This call came from the head of the NSC, Uzi Dayan, who defends his position saying that the aim of such an operation would be to target terrorists who represent a threat to Israel. “This is the time for the Israeli army to prevail its control inside Sinai,” Dayan told Israel's Channel 7. There was also a meeting last week with the Israeli Army Chief of Staff, Benny Jants, in regards to the Sinai Peninsula but Dayan did not specify what was spoken about. “Israeli military and security branches should prepare for a period different from the past one in dealing with Egypt,” Dayan said in regards with the relationship between Israel and the new Egyptian government. He continued saying that the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel should be preserved, yet Israel must also maintain the security of their civilians whilst ensuring that no tensions between Israel and Egypt escalate. Dayan believes that they should “respond strongly by pursuing the terrorists and to inform the Egyptian government that we may militarily intervene in Sinai” to prevent the Israeli border from becoming a vulnerable zone for terrorist attacks. Dayan is urging the Israeli government to put pressure on Egypt to deal with the issue whilst not violating the peace treaty which was established in 1979. Tensions between the two states have escalated, as many reports online have suggested that Israeli soldiers killed several Egyptian military and security personnel. Presidential hopeful Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, a former leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, has called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador in Cairo. According to an official statement published on his website “The Israeli enemy should be aware that Egyptian blood is the most precious thing we have, and that agreements and treaties are not worth the ink used to write them if the blood of citizens is shed.” At this moment it may be too soon to judge the situation, however many online reports have perhaps prematurely concluded that Israel has deliberately targeted Egyptian security forces and civilians. It is highly likely however that Egyptians that have fallen in combat have simply been caught in the crossfire. BM
