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First publication: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a dramatic message to those going to Sinai Israel today

2022-08-31T14:09:52.834Z


"Israel Today" recently received many complaints from Israelis who wanted to cross the border into Sinai by car, but were prohibited • Among other things, the border crossing officials in Taba claim that the reverse cameras in the car "could be used for espionage", and therefore demand that they be dismantled • Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "The problem is recognized and known "


First publication:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Israelis not to enter Sinai by private vehicle, this against the background of repeated harassment by border crossing personnel in Taba to tourists from Israel. 

Israel Hayom recently received many complaints from Israelis who wanted to cross the border into Sinai by car.

For some time, the Egyptians have forbidden those who entered Sinai by car to return by flight, and vice versa.

However, the more significant obstacle lies precisely in the reverse cameras that are installed in many vehicles.

The officials of the border crossing in Taba claim that the innocent cameras "could be used for espionage", and therefore demand that they be dismantled.

This is a relatively complex procedure that costs about a thousand shekels if it is performed in advance at a garage, and whoever arrives at the crossing without having disassembled the camera beforehand - the Egyptians simply rip it off and cause damage of thousands of shekels.

Israelis at the Taba border crossing (archive), photo: Yehuda Ben Yathach

The peace agreement between Israel and Egypt explicitly states that "Each side will allow free entry to citizens and vehicles of the other side, into and on its territory, in accordance with the rules applicable to citizens and vehicles of other countries. Neither side will impose strict restrictions on the free movement of people and vehicles." its territory to the territory of the other side". 

"The phenomenon of vandalizing the cameras"

In addition, Israel Hayom learned that despite repeated requests from the Airports Authority, the Egyptians refuse to increase the quota of incoming cars to more than 50 per day.

This is when the actual demand is for at least 500 cars.

Israelis who are familiar with the phenomenon of camera vandalism and are knowledgeable about what is happening at the Taba border crossing, told "Israel Hayom" that in their opinion it is a bribe paid by the Egyptian taxi drivers to the managers at the crossing.

In the last year, the taxi drivers in the pass increased the rates by about 400%.

Eliran Levy from Ashkelon was on his way to vacation in Sinai with his Toyota car.

At the Israeli border crossing everything went smoothly, but at the border crossing on the Egyptian side he was required to disassemble the reverse cameras.

"They made it clear to me that it is not possible to pass with cameras. I took apart the road camera, but then they demanded that I take apart the reversing cameras that do not take pictures. I explained to her that the cameras are connected and cannot be taken out in this vehicle, but they were not interested. They brought me a hammer and asked me to break the cameras. I had no choice but to break the cameras so as not to lose the vacation and the hotel payment."

According to Eliran, the damage was NIS 2,000.

"Almost everyone crossed the border on foot"

The veteran travelers, who travel several times a year to the Sinai Peninsula, say that in August a new record was broken in the number of taxis driven by Israelis from the Taba crossing to Nuaiba, Dahab and Sharm el-Sheikh.

"There were very busy days at the border crossing, days when the movement of close to 10,000 Israelis crossing the border was recorded, every day. Almost all of them crossed the border on foot, mainly because of a limit on the number of vehicles entering Sinai, and all of them needed taxi service.

"There were very busy days at the border crossing."

The Sinai Peninsula, photo: AFP

"In each large taxi, about 10 passengers enter, and by rough calculation, on such a busy day, the Israelis used more than 1,000 taxis, this is a huge number and a great livelihood for the drivers, and especially for the taxi owners, who are not all Bedouins," Number A, one of the Israelis who wishes to remain anonymous for fear that The Egyptians will harass him.

The average payment for a passenger in a large taxi on a routine trip to Taba Heights or Nueva is about NIS 50.

which is an income of about NIS 500 for a full taxi ride.

A trip to Sharm el-Sheikh already costs much more.

Every taxi driver makes the same trip many times in his life, especially in the Sinai Peninsula there is no limit to the number of hours the driver can spend on the road.

Among other things, the Israelis know how to tell that many times they encountered tired drivers who seemed to be close to falling asleep at any moment.

"The problem is recognized and known."

Ministry of Foreign Affairs building,

The Foreign Ministry said in response to Israel Hayom's inquiry that "the problem is recognized and known and we are working on a solution through the embassy in Cairo and the consular authorities. The transportation annex to the peace agreement with Egypt was signed in 1980, and it refers to vehicles with this sub-technology only. Naturally, there is no reference in it for more modern technologies, such as car cameras.As a result, the Egyptians claim that they are not ready to introduce vehicles that do not comply with the technological specifications contained in the agreement.

"The issue is under discussion and working groups from both countries are supposed to meet to try to upgrade the relevant sections of the agreement, and adapt them to the current reality. In the meantime, Israelis are asked not to enter the Sinai with their vehicles, since a detailed analysis of the transportation annex does not allow entry with vehicle cameras."

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Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2022-08-31

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