Egypt does not need Israeli cooperation to tackle armed groups in Sinai

The Policy Director at Israel’s Ministry of Defence has said that Egypt has complete sovereignty over the Sinai Peninsula and does not need cooperation with the Israelis to crack down on armed groups operating there. Retired General Amos Gilad told Israeli radio that President Morsi and the Egyptian army are determined to bring law and order to Sinai and impose security.

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Mr Gilad refused to say whether Israel had advance information about the attack in Sinai which left 16 Egyptian soldiers dead on Sunday. He also pointed out that cooperation between Israel and Egypt is in any case “continuous” as a result of the peace treaty.