Israel Matzav

Egypt carrying out massive military operation in Sinai with Israel's approval

With Israel's approval, the Egyptian army has launched a massive military operation in the Sinai Peninsula, which is aimed at cleaning out al-Qaeda terrorists and Bedouin gangs.

Egypt launched a massive military operation on Sunday to stop al-Qaida and Bedouin terrorists and to restore order to the Sinai Peninsula which fell into anarchy following the revolution in the country earlier this year.

Israeli defense officials said they were aware of the operation, known as Operation Eagle, and that head of the Defense Ministry’s Diplomatic-Security Bureau Amos Gilad had visited Cairo earlier this month to discuss a wide-range of issues with the interim Egyptian government including the operation in the Sinai.

In February, Israel gave the Egyptian government approval to deploy military forces in the Sinai Peninsula to crack down on Bedouin violence and to protect a gas pipeline that supplies natural gas to Israel. The deployment was made under the condition that the troops would withdraw the moment they are asked to by Israel.

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The operation launched on Sunday includes about 1,000 soldiers and a few hundred armored personnel carriers which flooded into the Sinai over the weekend and took up positions near el-Arish and Rafah. Israeli officials said they welcomed the operation which they expressed hope would also lead to a crackdown on weapons smuggling into Gaza which has significantly climbed since Hosni Mubarak’s regime fell in February.

Does anyone believe that the Egyptians are going to automatically withdraw their troops as soon as Israel asks them to do so? And what if Israel doesn't ask until after the Egyptian elections, and by then the Muslim Brotherhood is in charge? What could go wrong?

Labels: Egyptian Revolution, Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, El Arish, Muslim Brotherhood, Philadelphi corridor, Sinai

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:29 PM