Israel allows Egypt troops in Sinai for first time since 1979 peace treaty

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Haaretz

Israeli officials say they have agreed to allow Egypt to move several hundred troops into the Sinai Peninsula for the first time since the countries signed a peace treaty three decades ago.

Under the 1979 peace treaty, Israel returned the captured Sinai to Egypt. In return, Egypt agreed to leave the area demilitarized.

With street protests threatening the Egyptian regime, the unnamed officials say that Israel agreed to allow the Egyptian army to move two battalions, about 800 soldiers, into Sinai. The officials say the troops moved into the Sharm el-Sheikh area on Sinai's southern tip, far from Israel, on Sunday.

As the unrest in Egypt has spread, Israeli officials have grown increasingly concerned about the stability of their southern neighbor. They are especially worried that Palestinian militants could take advantage of the unrest to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip through tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-allows-egypt-troops-in-sinai-for-first-time-since-1979-peace-treaty-1.340405

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I am betting presidential guard

where do you think Hosni is supposed to be holing up at?

[LiberalLoner]

2. Yup. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I am betting somebody pointed out to Tel Avid

that the Peacekeeper's role was NOT to protect Hosni.

[LiberalLoner]

6. I am betting they already knew that, LOL... :) n/t

[Bobbysox22]

4. Interesting hypothesis.

Sharm is not much of a place, unless you want to go scuba diving. Hosni would be safer in Europe. But you could be right.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. That's where he has been mostly holing up

for years anyway. He has a villa there.

[Posteritatis]

7. Makes sense; the Egyptian street trusts the army for law enforcement much more than the police. (nt)

[western mass]

8. Israel: a "force for democracy" in the region

time to put that old nugget to rest.

"They are especially worried that Palestinian militants could take advantage of the unrest to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip"

Please tell us how Egyptian troops were previously putting a stop to this by NOT BEING THERE.

[nalnn]

9. I might be misunderstanding

I may be misunderstanding your post, but the Army may very well have been allowed at the border crossing and the border at large. In the absence of the Army though, Egyptian Customs officials and, yes, even the Egyptian National Police would be there to inspect travellers and vehicles for prohibited items and materials.

No point really, just FYI.