Sinai problems

Samson Blinded

As we expected, Israel again agreed to violate the Camp David peace treaty by allowing Egypt military deployment in Sinai. The violation is kept informal, the treaty is not amended – which is actually the worst way because it establishes precedent for continuous violation.

It would solve nothing. Reports indicate a mere 1,000-strong contingent. They intend to pacify to the public opinion, and the real figure is probably a few times higher. Nevertheless, such number is insufficient by far. Al Takfir alone mustered some 200 gunmen for operations, and certainly can bring along many more. Bedouin terrorists are incredibly more numerous.

As usual, Egyptian government makes a face of fighting terrorism without doing so. Terrorist groups will retreat in the face of the army, then come back soon after the soldiers return to barracks.

Smuggling in North Sinai Surges as the Police Vanish NYTimes