Israel-Egypt Relations

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Israel-Egypt Relations

Israel offered Egypt to investigate in a joint operation the circumstances of the killing of five Egyptian soldiers by the IDF last Thursday, in an attempt to ease tension between the two countries and allow the Egyptian interim government the possibility to convince themselves that the reports presented to them by IDF were accurate.

The announcement was made by Israeli Prime Minister’s office, and was saying that Israel is ready for a joint investigation into the “difficult event” that happened last Thursday, when IDF helicopters shot dead five Egyptian soldiers as they were pursuing some Palestinian terrorists who had bombed an Israeli location and were retreating toward the Egyptian region of Sinai.

PM’s national security adviser Yaakov Amidror said that the investigation would be set by the army on both sides, going one step ahead of what the defense minister had demanded, that an investigation be conducted by Israel and the results be shared with the Egyptians.

On Wednesday a high military officer visited Cairo on behalf of Israel and presented some evidence about the way the accident occurred.

The IDF showed the Egyptians that their troops at the border were aware of the terrorist presence in the area but did nothing about it. More than that, three of the terrorists were of Egyptian origin, belonged to radical group Islamic Jihad and had settled in the region of Sinai soon after they went out of prison in the days of the Egyptian revolution.

They had infiltrated in Gaza and contributed to the attacks on Jewish settlements. IDF told the Egyptian military council that they had this information from the beginning but did not want to embarrass the military council that now rules Egypt.

Egyptians Protesting the Border Incident

The Israeli general presented a video filmed by the helicopter that shot the terrorist, and according to it and photo images the helicopter diverted fire from the soldiers to the open area, where the terrorists were.

IDF also alluded that it was possible that the five Egyptian policemen were killed by the terrorists themselves. They said the expertise could not be performed because the bodies were taken to Egypt.

This incident created a lot of stress between the authorities in Cairo and Israel.

The military council in power now in the African country demanded a formal apology, and an investigation into what happened then.

The IDF presented their evidence, but it would seem the Egyptians want their own investigation, so in order to keep the tension down the Israeli government is in agreement with them.

Still, Israel has intensified its crackdown on Gazan terrorists after 20 rockets hit the territory of Israel, wounding a nine-month-old baby near Ashkelon. One of the missiles was intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome defense system.

100 rockets hit the Israeli territory for the last five days, prompting the IDF to say that this kind of behavior shell not be tolerated, and that the State of Israel will retaliate until order has been restored.

The wave of attacks is likely to damage the truce in the region brokered by Egypt at the United Nations, while the incident of the five Egyptians killed by mistake could render the agreement in 1979 between Egypt and Israel void.

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