JERUSALEM (JTA) — Islamist terrorists are targeting Arab-Israelis in the Sinai, a London-based Arabic newspaper reported.
Al-Sharq Al-Awasat reported Tuesday that armed terror cells affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as Hamas and al-Qaida, are poised to attack Israeli-Arabs as part of a plan to damage Sinai’s tourism industry.
The report quotes an unnamed “Israeli defense source,” according to Ynet.
“The attacks will target Israeli citizens in general, and Jewish citizens in particular,” the source said, according to Ynet. “According to my information, for the first time they also want to hurt Arab-Israelis.”
The Muslim Brotherhood reportedly is trying to mount terror attacks on Israelis in order to capitalize on the Egyptian public mood against cooperation with Israel.
On Sunday, Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a strong terror warning for all Israelis, calling on them to leave the Sinai immediately.
The warning was made, according to the bureau, “Given the deteriorating security situation in Sinai, which includes numerous violent clashes between groups, along with intelligence we have received about possible terror attacks.”
