Israel Matzav

Egypt arrests, releases four Israelis off Straits of Tiran

The IDF censor has cleared for publication the arrest by Egypt on Wednesday - and subsequent release through the intervention of the Foreign Ministry - of four waterborne security guards and their four crew members off the Straits of Tiran. This one is really bizarre.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, after a yacht carrying the Israeli guards encountered an Egyptian coastal guard ship. Despite being legally employed, the Israelis panicked and threw their weapons overboard.

Having noticed this, the Egyptian forces became suspicious. They arrested the Israeli guards and took them in for questioning in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Following the arrest, Israel's Foreign Ministry explained to Egyptian authorities that the incident was the result of a misunderstanding. The Egyptians eventually accepted the Israelis were not involved in criminal or security-related activity and decided to release them.

The yacht belongs to Shimon Mashiach from Eilat and usually gives tourist tours in the Red Sea.

Israel Radio reported that the yacht was employed by the Ofer Shipping Company and that it was carrying the weapons to protect against pirates. It was escorting or just had escorted an Ofer ship to the Suez Canal.

Labels: naval security, Ofer Brothers, Straits of Tiran

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:12 AM