The Sonesta, a new resort hotel in the disputed Taba region just south of Eilat, opened for business today despite strong objections by the Egyptian government which claims the land as part of Sinai.
The opening was informal. The hotel manager said about a dozen room were available and these are already booked. A gala formal opening to be attended by Cabinet ministers and other officials is scheduled in two weeks, by which time all rooms are expected to be ready for occupancy.
Toba, a small strip of beachfront land on the Gulf of Aqaba, is claimed by both Israel and Egypt. The dispute centers on the location of the boundary drawn under Ottoman Turkish rule early in the century. It was not resolved when Israel completed its withdrawal from Sinai last April and both countries agreed to negotiate. But the negotiations were suspended after Israel invaded Lebanon last June.
Cairo has been urging Israel not to open the hotel until the matter is resolved. Israel, for its part, is protesting against Egyptian efforts in London to persuade travel agents not to accept bookings at the new hotel.
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