The Hebrew daily, Ma’ariv, today confirmed that Israel has rejected an Egyptian request to send additional Egyptian troops into the Sinai to deal with growing threats in the area as described by Egyptian sources.
Egypt justified its request citing an increase in activity from organisations based in the area and referred to the recent bombing of a gas pipeline.
Israel stated that it had looked into the Egyptian request in detail; however it had decided to refuse the request. It also said that in the event of a return to security and stability in Egypt, the Egyptian troops recently deployed in the Sinai should be withdrawn.
According to a mutual agreement, Israel has prohibited the presence of the Egyptian army in the Sinai desert since the signing of the Camp David Accord in 1979.