Last Monday, just hours before the onset of Passover, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the crossing would be closed to Israelis at least until the end of the holiday because of “the intensifying activities” of Islamic State-affiliated terrorists in Sinai.Because of concrete terrorist threats, the government warned Israelis days earlier against travel to Sinai and urged all who were there to leave immediately.When Israelis continued to flock to the popular tourist destination – with some 20,000 expected during the holiday – the rare decision to close the crossing was made at the highest levels.On Sunday, the High Court of Justice rejected a petition to force the government to reopen the crossing.Tuesday’s announcement said an up-to-date assessment of the security situation prompted a renewed decision to keep the Taba Crossing closed to Israelis traveling to Egypt and that the decision will be continuously reexamined in the coming days.Herb Keinon contributed to this report.Taba will be opened for Israelis who wish to visit Sinai.However, the terror threat there remains imminent.Israelis there should return home pic.twitter.com/f7ilbq49ho
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) April 21, 2017
Israel-Sinai border crossing re-opens, terror threat remains in place
Israelis currently vacationing in the Sinai were encouraged to return.
