IDF: Al-Qaeda Bases in Sinai

IDF’s Intelligence Security Chief has told Israel’s government that Al-Qaeda recently took over a large area in the Sinai Peninsula. Mines around their new base signaled Egyptian security forces not to come near. He said the base was used for training terrorists and for preparing them to enter Gaza for further movement to Israel where they can perpetrate attacks.

Gen. Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash told the Israeli cabinet that Egypt is not taking actions against the terrorist cell because the country fears that a direct clash with Al-Qaeda will lead to more terror attack against Egypt. Daily Arutz Sheva says “Egypt cannot take massive military action in the demilitarized desert without Israeli permission - something it does not wish to request.”

Egypt denies the allegations. A security official said "we absolutely do not have bases for al-Qaeda in Sinai, we have repeatedly confirmed that. ’Since the beginning, we ruled out any relation for the executors of the attacks in [Taaba and Sharm El-Sheikh] with al-Qaida, but Israel continues to say that Osama Bin Laden’s organization exists in Egypt."