JERUSALEM (JTA) — A pipeline that carries gas from Egypt to Israel was attacked for the fourth time in the past six months, again halting gas supplies to Israel and Jordan.
Masked gunmen blew up the El-Arish terminal in the Sinai on Monday night, according to reports. The gunmen attacked the security guards before blowing up the pipeline. One guard reportedly was injured, as were members of his family, witnesses said.
Repairs had just been completed on a section of the pipeline that was blown up less than a week ago. Gas supplies were scheduled to resume at the end of the week.
Egypt supplies Israel with more than 40 percent of its natural gas needs to produce electricity. Electricity prices in Israel are slated to increase by 18 percent, in part because of the shortage of natural gas.
In March, explosives failed to detonate in a second attempt by terrorists to bomb the pipeline. Another attack on April 27 blew up part of the pipeline in El-Arish, again halting the gas supply.
