Three Israelis are expected to testify before an Egyptian inquiry, scheduled to begin tomorrow, into the killing of seven Israeli tourists in Sinai last month-allegedly by an Egyptian soldier, the Foreign Ministry announced today.
However, two of the three Israelis are not expected to attend the inquiry on the scheduled date since that day marks the 30th day after the murder of one of the witness’ sons in the tragic incident at Ras Burka, some 40 kilometers south of Eilat.
The Foreign Ministry said Sarah Baum, and her 12-year-old son Ehud, together with Gera Koren, would give evidence at the inquiry in Neviot in the Sinai. But Baum indicated a conflict with scheduling, saying she will be attending a memorial service at the gravesite of her other son, 10-year-old Amir, a victim of the Sinai attack.
Ehud, her other son, said he refused to enter the area again unless he was accompanied by a large force of armed Israeli soldiers to ensure the security of his family.
OTHER EYE-WITNESSES SAID TO BE MORE QUALIFIED
Meanwhile, Sarah Baum and other eye-witnesses said that the persons called to give evidence to the Egyptian inquiry are not the right people to describe what happened and give an accurate account of the delays by the Egyptians in administering first aid to the wounded, which some experts said would probably have saved the lives of at least five of the seven people killed in the attack.
These eye-witnesses said that others present at the foot of the sand dune or in the vicinity could see more than the three persons summoned to appear before the inquiry, who had been pinned down by the soldier’s fire and (he orders of other Egyptian soldiers on the spot.
According to Baum, the Egyptians do not want to hear eye-witnesses whose evidence will unmask glaring mistakes by the Egyptians, and she blames the Israeli Foreign Ministry for not pressing the Egyptians enough to complete a speedy investigation of the incident. She suggested that the Israeli government does not want to embarrass Cairo and hamper any peace negotiations. The Foreign Ministry rejects the charges.
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