Israeli tourist stabbed in Sinai
Man vacationing with family in Egyptian tourist resort suffers light wounds after being stabbed by Libyan laborer, apparently after suspect tried to steal family's belongings. Man transferred to Eilat hospital; Egyptian police launch search for assailant
A Tel Aviv resident vacationing with his family at an Egyptian Red Sea resort was stabbed and lightly wounded by a Libyan laborer on Monday.
The man was transferred to Yoseftal Medical Center in Eilat for treatment. Israeli police suspect the attack was criminally-motivated.
A police examination revealed that the man and his family were at the beach south of Taba when the worker, who apparently tried to rob them of their belongings, was caught by surprise by the Israeli and stabbed him in the face and neck.
Egyptian authorities said the Libyan fled after the attack, but left behind his passport. Authorities launched a search for him.
A spokeswoman for the Yoseftal hospital confirmed that a man with a stab wound had been treated. "A man was brought in this morning from Sinai. He had been stabbed in the face, he received stitches and was released," said Naomi Yitzhak.
Israel last week issued a stern travel warning telling its citizens to stay out of the Sinai Peninsula, citing new intelligence about plans to attack Israeli tourists.
Also Monday, an Egyptian official said police were tracking down 13 members of an alleged Hizbullah cell believed to be hiding out with the Bedouins in the rugged Sinai peninsula.
The men are thought to be 10 Lebanese and three Sudanese - part of a group of 49 members of an alleged Hizbullah cell that the government announced is plotting to attack Egyptian institutions and Israeli tourists.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, said the men had taken shelter in the central Sinai town of al-Nakhl.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
