Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak praised Israel’s return of the Taba beach resort to Egyptian control last week as a model of Israeli cooperation with countries of the Middle East.
But an Israeli hotelier alleged that Israeli authorities are now trying to block tourism to the area. And tourists complained of excessive red tape at Israeli border checkpoints.
Mubarak flew to Taba on Sunday for official ceremonies marking the enclave’s return to Egyptian control last Wednesday. The Egyptian president brought with him from Cairo a large entourage of Egyptian dignitaries and journalists.
Speaking from a special dais erected near the Taba Sonesta Hotel, gaily decorated with Egyptian flags and large portraits of the Egyptian president, Mubarak called on Israelis not to be afraid of the Palestine Liberation Organization and to meet its representatives at the negotiating table.
He said the resolution of the Taba dispute serves as a model of cooperation between Israel and the countries of the region, especially Jordan.
But Eli Papushado, former owner of the Avia Sonesta Hotel and now manager of the renamed, Egyptian-owned Taba Sonesta, has called into question whether the Israeli authorities are interested in continuing the cooperation in Taba.
Papushado criticized Tourism Minister Gideon Patt for saying Friday that Israelis who continue to frequent Taba have to be “masochists.” The minister expressed concern that large-scale tourism to Taba could draw tourists away from hotels in Eilat, particularly if Egypt opens a casino at Taba.
He threatened to impose a travel tax on Israelis wishing to visit the area if Egypt made such a move.
Papushado called Patt’s remarks ridiculous, considering all the effort the government had put into easing Israeli access to the resort area during negotiations with the Egyptians.
Meanwhile, Israeli tour operators and tourists are reporting long delays clearing the checkpoint on the Israeli side of the border at Taba.
They have expressed harsh criticism at the inefficiency and ineptness of Israeli border control officials, comparing it unfavorably with the efficiency and courtesy extended by officials on the Egyptian side.
They complained that it took up to an hour to go through the Israeli procedures, but only a few minutes on the Egyptian side.
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