Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Obama calls for aid access to Gaza, says 'no justification' for withholding food    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Egypt's SCZONE eyes deeper investment, port digitalisation ties with Singapore    Egypt's gold prices slip slightly on July 28th    Egypt's Housing Min. reviews HDP marketing plan    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egypt, South Africa pledge to deepen development cooperation at G20 meeting    Egypt's PM orders road maintenance review, tougher penalties to curb accidents    Egypt, Novartis explore expanding collaboration in oncology, cardiology    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Midar partners with Adeer to develop Boulevard project in Mostakbal City with EGP 70bn investment    Association of Real Estate Developers seeks urgent meeting over threatened land deallocation on Northwest Coast    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Bedouin delegation to meet Interior Minister to calm Sinai tensions
Published in Daily News Egypt on 28 - 06 - 2010

CAIRO: A delegation from Sinai's Bedouin tribes is expected to meet with the Minister of Interior Habib Al-Adly this week in an effort to diffuse tensions between state forces and Bedouins in Sinai.
The proposed meeting comes after a week that saw two incidents of clashes between Bedouins and security forces in the Wadi Amr area that led to the temporary closure of Al-Oja crossing.
Member of the Tarabin tribe and Bedouin spokesman Moussa El-Dilh told Daily News Egypt Monday, “The police are trying to provoke the Bedouins, raiding our homes and shooting up water tanks. They're trying to find a reason to increase the number of troops in the area.”
Also this past week, a Bedouin was killed by Israeli forces Saturday for allegedly attempting to infiltrate the border along with some others who were deemed drug smugglers, and just last Sunday, the state accused Bedouins of attempting to sabotage an oil pipeline south of Al-Arish.
Explosives were planted underneath the pipeline and detonated. They did not cause a leak in the pipeline, only slight structural damage to the pipe casing.
The alleged smuggler killed by Israeli forces and whose body is due to be returned via Al-Oja crossing was identified as 18 year-old Salman Attiya Salman Ubaidallah of the Tiyaha tribe.
“He's 18 and they've made him out to be a drug kingpin,” El-Dilh said, “They exaggerate matters to make us look worse. There's no development for Bedouins and some have no choice but to grow drugs to make a living.”
A shootout ensued on the road leading to Al-Oja crossing last Monday between security forces and armed Bedouins in which at least two passersby were injured.
After security forces raided the village of Wadi Amr near the crossing at dawn in search of Bedouins wanted by the state or tried in absentia, a group of them held up the road leading to Al-Oja crossing.
Security forces converged and the two sides exchanged gunfire, which mainly hit truck drivers caught in the crossfire. The two injuries sustained were by drivers passing by.
“They raided my home as well as others in Wadi Amr and accused me of hiding wanted fugitives,” El-Dilh said.
Then on Sunday, security officials accused Bedouins of attacking a humanitarian convoy bound for Gaza after another raid in search of wanted fugitives that led to a shootout and three vehicles being set on fire.
El-Dilh said, “No one is preventing any convoys from going through. There were incidents at Al-Oja crossing but with police forces. Maybe the convoy was caught in the crossfire.”
The main suspect state forces are searching for is Salem Ali Salem, known as Salem Abu Lafi, a man who escaped from police clutches last February during his transfer to another prison, an incident which led to the death of two policemen.
It took place during a prisoner transfer from Ismailia to Al-Arish. Armed Bedouins in three cars attacked the bus in an area called Be'er El Abd, killing officer Ahmed Osama Hafez of the criminal division unit of North Sinai, and a policeman while two other policemen were wounded.


Clic here to read the story from its source.