Heavy Troop Deployment near Egypt-Israel Border
According to an Egyptian security official, large numbers of Egyptian security forces have been ordered on Wednesday to Egypt-Israel border area in the Sinai Peninsula in an attempt to stave off any further strife with restive Bedouin tribes.
Due to the fact that a Bedouin smuggler was shot to death by border officials, angry tribesmen attacked two Egyptian police border posts and seized 70 members of the security forces, disarming them. In addition, dozens of armored vehicles have already arrived at the border area after a day of violent clashes between angry Bedouins and police that left three Bedouins dead and five police injured.
A delegation of Interior Ministry officials and high-ranking officers will be holding talks with influential Bedouin figures in Sinai to neutralize tensions.
The impoverished Bedouin of the northern Sinai have been restive for years, often demonstrating over neglect by the central government and the draconian security sweeps taking place in the wake of terrorist incidents. The Bedouin have also been implicated in the smuggling of drugs and people into Israel as well as weapons and explosives into the Gaza Strip.
Yousif Al Qassar
