CAIRO: The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth's website reported on Monday that Israeli army troops near the border with Egypt had heard shots, but no one has been injured. According to the website, “an initial investigation revealed that the shots were directed at the [Israeli] troops, but it is unclear at this time who the perpetrators are,” the website reported, adding: “The gunman, or gunmen, fled the scene and the [Israeli] troops did not return fire.” In response, an Israeli army spokesman announced a state of emergency, readying the troops at the border to be on alert but to not shoot back. The incident occurred near the city of Eilat. Eilat was hit on August 18 by alleged incursions from across the Egyptian border, which killed 8 Israelis and wounded another 30. Since then security has been stepped up in the region, and no official Israeli report has been released on the issue. Israel responded to the Eilat violence by conducting a cross-border raid into the Sinai Peninsula that saw five Egyptian soldiers and border guards killed. The violence sparked massive outrage among Egyptians, which culminated in an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Egypt on Friday night that left at least three people dead and over 1,000 wounded in clashes with police. BM
