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U.S. Proposes to Reduce Multinational Force in Sinai

(Ha'aretz) Amos Harel - Today some 700 American soldiers from special combat and supportive logistical units serve in several camps in Egyptian Sinai, the largest of which are in El Giyora southeast of El Arish and in Sharm El-Sheikh. The American soldiers number a little less than half the entire size of the Multinational Force whose role is to monitor the Israel-Egypt peace treaty. Egypt has objected to a U.S. proposal to reduce its participation in the Multinational Force, while Washington worries that American soldiers may be hurt in terrorist attacks by a wing of ISIS operating in Sinai. The U.S. has plans to reduce the number of its soldiers in Sinai by at least a third. Egypt is opposed to such a move for fear it would be seen as an American expression of no confidence in President el-Sissi's ability to effectively fight terrorists in Sinai. The number of attacks against the multinational force in Sinai has been relatively small. According to Israeli assessments, the main reason for this is that many of the Bedouin tribes in Sinai make a living from these camps.
2016-05-04 00:00:00
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