The severe attack on Israel’s Sinai border taints a decade of security and military coordination, unprecedented in scope and quality, between Israel and Egypt. The commander of the Southern Command was correct to note that this was a "border of peace" and announced a joint investigation by the two countries to clarify the circumstances of the incident; and the Egyptian Defense Minister was correct when he offered his condolences to the Israeli Defense Minister and pledged to work to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future. However, Egypt has not yet officially recognized that the Egyptian policeman acted as a terrorist and has not yet condemned his act.
Both countries have an interest in turning the painful event into a platform for continuing and strengthening their cooperation. Egypt needs Israel in its efforts to thwart terrorism in Sinai, which since 2013 has resulted in the death of over 3,000 Egyptian security personnel, the downing of a Russian passenger plane in 2015, and serious damage to tourism entering the peninsula. Israel, for its part, needs Egypt to prevent terrorist elements from entrenching themselves, and to maintain peace and stability on its southwestern border and to curb drug and illegal smuggling and the infiltration of terrorist operatives and immigrants.
Beyond the operational failures that will be investigated, the attack is a reminder of the chronic problems on the long, shared border between the countries (about 200 km), headed by the drug smuggling industry that has thrived for years in the wake of poor governance on both sides of the border. Increasing the efforts of Israel and Egypt to eradicate the phenomenon is essential in itself, but it will also be useful in preventing armed friction and improving the security situation. As shown in the past, the smuggling industry from Sinai to Israel and the Gaza Strip may be used by terrorist elements, and this situation should not be accepted.
The attack also revealed the threat of what at this point appears to be a single attacker, who came from among the Egyptian security forces and was motivated by religion or nationalism. In the reality of an Egyptian public discourse that is partly hostile toward Israel, when voices are heard on Arabic social media referring to the terrorist as a "hero," it is important that a firm and clear condemnation is sounded by Cairo to ensure that the exceptional case is not legitimized or becomes a source of inspiration for others.
The severe attack on Israel’s Sinai border taints a decade of security and military coordination, unprecedented in scope and quality, between Israel and Egypt. The commander of the Southern Command was correct to note that this was a "border of peace" and announced a joint investigation by the two countries to clarify the circumstances of the incident; and the Egyptian Defense Minister was correct when he offered his condolences to the Israeli Defense Minister and pledged to work to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future. However, Egypt has not yet officially recognized that the Egyptian policeman acted as a terrorist and has not yet condemned his act.
Both countries have an interest in turning the painful event into a platform for continuing and strengthening their cooperation. Egypt needs Israel in its efforts to thwart terrorism in Sinai, which since 2013 has resulted in the death of over 3,000 Egyptian security personnel, the downing of a Russian passenger plane in 2015, and serious damage to tourism entering the peninsula. Israel, for its part, needs Egypt to prevent terrorist elements from entrenching themselves, and to maintain peace and stability on its southwestern border and to curb drug and illegal smuggling and the infiltration of terrorist operatives and immigrants.
Beyond the operational failures that will be investigated, the attack is a reminder of the chronic problems on the long, shared border between the countries (about 200 km), headed by the drug smuggling industry that has thrived for years in the wake of poor governance on both sides of the border. Increasing the efforts of Israel and Egypt to eradicate the phenomenon is essential in itself, but it will also be useful in preventing armed friction and improving the security situation. As shown in the past, the smuggling industry from Sinai to Israel and the Gaza Strip may be used by terrorist elements, and this situation should not be accepted.
The attack also revealed the threat of what at this point appears to be a single attacker, who came from among the Egyptian security forces and was motivated by religion or nationalism. In the reality of an Egyptian public discourse that is partly hostile toward Israel, when voices are heard on Arabic social media referring to the terrorist as a "hero," it is important that a firm and clear condemnation is sounded by Cairo to ensure that the exceptional case is not legitimized or becomes a source of inspiration for others.