B’nai B’rith International condemns the Aug. 18 terrorist attacks along Israel’s border with Egypt and calls upon the Egyptian government to drastically increase security in the Sinai Peninsula. The attacks, which killed at least seven—including a family of four and Israeli soldiers—and injured at least 25, began when Palestinian gunmen from Gaza struck a bus near Eilat, followed shortly thereafter by the detonation of two nearby roadside bombs.
“The ability of these infiltrators from Gaza to perpetrate these attacks suggests Egypt’s decreasing attention to enforcing security in Sinai,” said B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs. “We call upon Egypt to ensure there is no safe haven for terrorists inside its borders. Terrorists must not be allowed to use the Sinai as a launching ground for attacks against Israel.”
Israel and Egypt have had diplomatic relations for nearly 30 years. These attacks represent an appalling disregard for human life and only seek to worsen tensions in the Middle East.
“We cannot tolerate a situation that allows extremists to spread both terrorism and hatred in the area,” said Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin. “Those in the international community who recognize the threat posed by these acts of terror must redouble their efforts to fight against such atrocities.”
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