An Israeli Defense official told Israeli TV Saturday that Israel would not permit an increase of Egyptian troops in the Sinai Peninsula as per the peace treaty with Israel. Amos Gilad, Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs at the Israeli Ministry of Defense, said that Israel would not allow an increase of Egyptian military forces in Sinai under the pretext of fighting terrorism, because it would destroy the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. In an interview Saturday night with Israeli television, Gilad said the Egyptian army has to maintain a balance, stressing that Egypt has no intention to change the peace agreement by the introduction of additional forces without first coordinating with the Israeli's. Gilad explained that it is necessary to maintain relations with Egypt because it represents an important aspect of Israel's national security policy, and that the Sinai has become a conduit for the transfer of weapons to militant groups in the Gaza Strip. The former special emissary to Egypt said he considered the demonstrations outside the Israeli Embassy in Cairo only as an expression of opinion, as long as the Israeli embassy is not stormed nor the Israeli embassy harmed. Gilad added that the apology issued from Israel to Egypt regarding the death of soldiers on the Israeli border is an attempt to appease the Egyptians. Gilad said they were killed by mistake and in an exchange of fire between the Israeli military and militants, claiming that the Israeli army would never shoot Egyptians.
