It’s summer time and it’s the high season in the beautiful resort town of Eilat. Sadly, the peace and quiet of the southern most city in Israel, was abruptly broken today as a chain of terror attacks claimed the lives of at least 6 people and injured tens of civilians.
Following is an army briefing concerning the terror attacks today in the south of the country. This was reported at approx. 5:00 pm Israel time. Note the final comment “it is not finished yet”:-
IDF- This is a darkness day for Israel. We are looking at a multi-layered attack by a terrorist squad that infiltrated from Gaza. I’m going to give you a time line.
The first attack was on a civilian bus heading from Shizafon to Eilat, the most southern city in Israel, approximately 20km north of Eilat. The bus was targeted with heavy fire and we had injuries as a result of fire.
The second incident took place not too far from the first incident. At the second incident, an IED was activated towards a vehicle, and we also had some injuries.
There also was an exchange of fire between IDF forces and the terrorist squad. We have targeted seven of the terrorists.
We are taking about a complex attack against Israelis. It was an Israeli civilian bus. It was a terrorist squad that infiltrated from Gaza. I cannot give you exact casualty figures because we are still gathering details.
Questions
Blogger: How do you know that the terrorists came from Gaza?
IDF: Our forces engaged in an exchange of fire with the terrorist squad. We also have intelligence information that doesn’t leave a doubt that they were terrorists from Gaza.
Blogger: What is the status with the border fence where they came across?
IDF: I’m not sure that this specific area. The new border fence between Israel and Egypt has a few kilometers already built.
Blogger: Where the terrorists from Hamas?
IDF: We don’t have currently any information that we can release about the organization that they can from. I can confirm that seven were hit.
IDF: The exchange of fire is still ongoing. But it is not finished yet. The roads were closed by the [Israel] Police. Because the situation isn’t terminated yet.
In a well planned attack the terrorists fired shots at 2 buses and civilian car, assaulted Israeli soldiers, and fired mortars and an anti-tank missile.
Items are seen aboard a bus after it was ambushed (Image: Reuters)
Defense minister Barack commented on the attack saying “”This is a serious terrorist attack in a number of locations. The event reflects the weakening of Egyptian control over Sinai and the expansion of the activity of terrorist forces. ”
The violence near the resort city of Eilat stoked concerns about growing lawlessness in the neighboring Egyptian Sinai Peninsula following the ouster in February of Egypt’s longtime autocratic leader, Hosni Mubarak.
Democratic elections are yet to be seen in Egypt, but the direct result of the revolution is that anarchy rules in Sinai. The local Egyptian police is afraid of the armed Bedouins that rule the area and the smuggling route to Gaza is open to all.
Such anarchy is the perfect breeding ground for radical Islam. Today’s terror attack is proof of that.
The beautiful town of el Arish in Sinai is known for its beaches and luxury resorts. But in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, el Arish is becoming known for something far different from tourism. A well-armed jihadist group is making its presence felt on the dusty streets here, intimidating opponents and demanding Egypt becomes an Islamist state.
If the Egyptian authorities do not move quickly to crush the extremists and regain control, the Sinai Peninsula could soon become a separate Islamic emirate run by Salafis, Hamas and Al-Qaeda.
The Arab revolution is creating fast paced changes in the Arab world. Sadly these fast paced changes will not lead to democracy and freedom for the Arab people.
Instead radical Islamic groups are quick to hijack the winds of change aiming to create Islamic regimes instead of democratic ones.
