Hundreds of Israelis used to spend Passover in Sinai but this year that’s very unlikely to happen and Egypt suffers as a result.
Every year the government warns Israelis to avoid Sinai during Passover. Friends and relatives worry that they will become the next Ghalid Shalit, which is silly given there are now zero Israeli captives, but the fear is real for a people who have always felt surrounded. Even so, many intrepid Israelis in the past made the journey south, where they stayed in small sustainable beach shacks from Dahab to Sharm el-Sheikh, eating local food, living in harmony with the Bedouins – if only for a week. This is as close as Egypt gets to eco-tourism, but this year, it is very unlikely that even the most courageous Israelis will cross the Taba border into Sinai.
The revolution has changed Egypt. Instead of giving its residents a new lease on life, a chance to fix past mistakes (such as haphazard development and poor environmental regulation), it has created more divisions among those on either end of the political spectrum.
An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has wiped out thousands of livestock, food prices are high, energy supplies are scarce despite a new oil field in the Gulf of Suez and muggings and kidnappings are on the rise.
This is particularly true in Cairo, where street lights are dimming, and along the Sinai peninsula, one of the most popular tourism areas in the country. Although Americans, Russians, and other foreigners might still be willing to take the risk that a visit might entail, Israelis are very unlikely to bring their business to Egypt this year.
It was always kind of ironic that the Israelis would head back into the territory from which they were supposed to be commemorating their hard-earned escape from slavery. And it had to have been a sore spot for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who each year send out a press release describing how religious Jews should celebrate this important holiday.
But this is actually a depressing development in the relationship between residents of the countries, not to mention the economic strain that continues to plunge Egypt deeper and deeper into trouble.
Forget the government for one minute and think only of every day people. People like you and me who may not love Iranian politics but we would be hard pressed to dislike a normal citizen of that country.
As Sustainable as it Comes
Despite longstanding political fractions, every day Israelis interacted harmoniously with the Bedouins, if not other Egyptians, at least once a year. They brought their families and their good will and left politics at home. They also brought a nice chunk of cash that was injected into the local economy.
Hundreds of Israelis used to flood across the Taba border. In fact, it was almost impossible to go anywhere along the peninsula during Pesach (Passover) where there were no Israelis. But this year, they will be a rare sight. And the rest can’t be blamed for heading elsewhere when so many reports of trouble have emerged from the region in the last few months.
In January, the Chief of Police told Al Jazeera that they have gotten Northern Sinai under control. But he can’t be trusted. Instead, the popular Egyptian commentator Sandmonkey claims it will take at least 10 years for Egypt’s police force to become adequately dispossessed of their old bad habits and trained again as effective peacekeepers.
In the meantime, Egypt’s troubles grow thicker.
Image credit: Moses Parts Red Sea, Shutterstock
More on Eco-Tourism in Egypt:
Is Troubled Egypt Ripe Enough for Eco-Tourism?
New El Mandara Eco-Haven Pops up in Fayoum
Romantic Desert Lodge in Egypt Offers Fresh Eggs and Sanity
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Hey,
Was in Sinaï a couple of weeks ago (after the kidnappings), and I in fact met quite some Israelis, and the locals reassured me that it’s not unsafe. The extremists are nowadays busy with politics not with terrorism. Rather blame the media, they are telling bullshit
I think you forgot to mention that with the Arab ‘Spring’ power grab by the Muslim Brotherhood, constant rumors that Egypt will repeal the peace treaty with Israel, the violence against the Israeli Embassy, etc., Israelis may no longer be so kindly disposed towards Egypt. Plus, here is a troubling story: http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=264308
While I feel bad for people whose livings were harmed, you’re in essence “blaming the israelis” saying “come on, seriously, do you really think there will be another gilad shalit” when that isn’t the concern- Gilad was taken by Gazans, not egyptians.
What Israelis are more worried about is things like this http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/146935#.T3rTN2GP_4E “33 Wounded in Terror Attacks on 2 Buses Near Eilat” “Security sources said the bus appeared to have been hit by fire apparently from the Egyptian side of the border, in the Sinai Peninsula.” Or like you mentioned in your own article “muggings and kidnappings are on the rise.” Egypt isnt exactly the friendliest place towards jews or Israelis at the moment.
“Israeli Embassy in Cairo Attacked” http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/154003#.T3rUQ2GP_4E
So yea, while I feel bad for any innocent people losing their livelihood over this, I feel worse for people killed or injured by egyptians or by people on egyptian soil, merely because they’re israeli/jewish.
No, I’m definitely not blaming the Israelis:
“And the rest can’t be blamed for heading elsewhere when so many reports of trouble have emerged from the region in the last few months.”
In the past, I think Israelis were excessively cautious. But now I think their worries are justified.
Thanks for reading.
I feel for the Egyptians who suffer at the hands of their inept leadership. And it doesn’t seem like the situation will get better soon – for anyone, as you say Karin.
Until Egyptians can ensure the safety of its tourists no matter what race or nationality, I would encourage no one to go there.
This is so true. Last year we had friends travel to Egypt and stay near the Red Sea. The hotel was practically empty, they said. Hardly a soul in sight, which means even poorer conditions for Egyptians who benefited from warmer relations with their neighbors to the north.