RAFAH, Egypt: Three Bedouin children from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula face trial today for charges of illegal entry and smuggling goods into Israel at the Bikr el-Sabee Court in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli border soldiers claimed they arrested Salah, Mohamed and Yasser, all under the age of 14, for smuggling goods across borders but Bedouin sources say the three boys were detained after trying to sell cigarettes to the soldiers. It should be noted Israeli authorities are using a law from 1954, providing prevention of infiltrators entering Israel despite the presence of a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel in 1978. Israel however does not comment when Egypt detains infiltrated Israelis but release them to return home, and Egypt never brought them to trial. The Bedouin families are waiting anxiously for the outcome of the trials. It is likely events will escalate if the three minor boys are given a ruling against them.
