'Sinai terror threat disconcerting'

PM Netanyahu, Defense Minister Barak express concerns over terror threat lurking in Sinai Peninsula

AFP|Published: 09.28.11 , 16:14

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak expressed concern Wednesday over the lurking threats to the security of Israel from Egyptian Sinai.

"There are those seeking to use Sinai not merely as a staging area for attacks from Gaza but seeking to use Gaza as a staging area for attacks from Sinai. This is obviously a very troubling development," Netanyahu said.

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Netanyahu added that Jerusalem shares its security concerns with both Cairo authorities and Washington, and that Israel was "taking action" on its side of the border to thwart any threat.

The prime minister's statements came on the heels of yet another attack on the Egyptian gas pipeline, which delivers gas to Israel and Jordan. The attack was the sixth one since February.

"I hope that the importance of maintaining peace is understood by all parties in Egypt. I think this message has been sent to the Egyptians so very clear by the United States," he added.

Defense Minister Barak, on his part, echoed Netanyahu's concerns and confirmed that Israel had accepted the deployment of reinforcements of the Egyptian army in Sinai in order to improve safety.

With the approval of Israel, Egyptian tanks came in mid-August in northern Sinai.

Meanwhile, Israel's security forces declared a high state of alert ahead of Rosh Hashana weekend, with forces deployed nation wide, and especially in the southern sector.