標題: Israeli exodus through Taba sparks anger in Egypt<<<台灣呢？ [列印本頁] 作者: taf_jsc 時間: 2025-6-23 21:55:29 標題: Israeli exodus through Taba sparks anger in Egypt<<<台灣呢？
Israeli exodus through Taba sparks anger in Egypt Amid Iranian strikes, thousands of Israelis are fleeing via Egypt's Taba crossing - prompting backlash over privileges and security concerns.
The New Arab Staff 22 June, 2025
As Iranian missile strikes target strategic Israeli sites and Israeli airspace faces intermittent closures, the Egyptian border town of Taba has emerged as a critical escape route for Israelis fleeing the conflict.
However, while Egyptian authorities have facilitated their transit, the influx has triggered a wave of public anger and raised questions about national security, sovereignty, and discrimination against Palestinians.
Thousands of Israelis and foreign nationals, including diplomats and international staff, have crossed into Egypt through the Taba crossing in recent days, aiming to fly onwards via Sharm el-Sheikh airport to Europe or other destinations.
Foreign embassies in Cairo have coordinated with the Egyptian government to ensure safe evacuations.
A European diplomatic source told The New Arab's sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that "the Egyptian Foreign Ministry handled the evacuation requests with high professionalism, providing safe corridors in coordination with security services," adding that "Egypt’s swift response reflected an awareness of the sensitivity of the situation and the importance of its role in regional de-escalation."
Despite the official coordination, the movement has provoked outrage among Egyptians.
Critics see the presence of Israelis in the Sinai as unacceptable, particularly while Israeli bombardment continues in Gaza and the West Bank.
Activists highlighted what they called a disturbing paradox: “The Palestinians are besieged, and the Egyptian authorities block convoys to break the siege, while Israelis are welcomed in Sinai hotels.”
Israel stopped the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza in March last year, exposing hundreds of thousands of people to malnutrition.
Aid is now only distributed at points run by the US and Israeli backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while desperately attempting to reach aid there.
Mohamed Saif Al-Dawla, the founder of Egyptians against Zionism, compared the behaviour of Egyptian authorities to the situation which existed in colonial times.
"The facilitation of Israeli entry into Sinai today is reminiscent of the foreign privileges system imposed on Egypt under British occupation," he told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
"Are Egyptians aware that Israelis enjoy special tourist privileges inside Egyptian territory?" Al-Dawla asked, referencing a 1989 bilateral agreement allowing Israeli tourists to enter South Sinai visa-free via Taba, stay for up to 14 days without paying entry fees, and have customs inspections limited to random checks.
"No other nationality enjoys such exemptions," he said.
"Even after Egypt won the Taba border dispute in 1988, we saw no real review of these arrangements. Zionist ambitions in Sinai have never ceased. [Former Israeli Prime Minister] Menachem Begin said Israel would return to Sinai when three million Jews were ready to settle it.
"And in 2008, Avi Dichter said Israel’s withdrawal was conditional on US guarantees that allowed return if the Egyptian regime no longer served Israeli interests," he added.
Seif Al-Dawla warned of the security risks posed by the entry of Israelis to Egypt.
"The real danger isn’t just legal privileges, but the resulting security breaches, espionage, and soft recruitment happening on our soil."
A tourism official said the spike in hotel occupancy brought little economic benefit to Egypt
"These are essentially fake bookings. Israelis only stay one or two nights before flying elsewhere. Taba and Sharm are just transit points."
However, on social media, Israelis spoke of their satisfaction with the situation
We feel very safe in Sinai. It’s an excellent travel option. Come back—life goes on, even during war," wrote settler Guy Shilo in a post to the 'Lovers of Sinai' group.
But for Egyptians living legally in Israel, the story was different. The Association of Egyptians in Israel posted:
“Freedom of movement is a simple right granted to Israelis but denied to Egyptian citizens.”
The group described lengthy, uncertain security procedures for Egyptians trying to return home - even temporarily - through the same border their Israeli counterparts cross with ease.