Israeli PM tours site of deadly border attack
- 12 years ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tours the site of one of the deadliest border assaults in decades.
On Sunday, armed men attacked an Egyptian police station in northern Sinai, killing at least 15 officers and stealing two armoured vehicles.
The militants, identified as Jihadist Salafis operating in Gaza and Egypt, then drove to the Israel border, where Israeli air and ground forces blew up one of the vehicles and gunned down others, killing at least eight in total.
Officials offered condolences to Egypt, but also called the attack a "wake up call" for the country often accused of failing to secure its restive Sinai region where Gaza, Egypt and Israel meet.
(SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:
"It turns out time and again that when it comes to the security of Israeli citizens, the state of Israel must and can rely only on itself".
This is the first test of its kind for new Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi who has promised to secure Egypt's borders and deal fairly with Israel.
It will also test Mursi's relationship with Hamas leaders who are promising an investigation into the incident.
On Sunday, armed men attacked an Egyptian police station in northern Sinai, killing at least 15 officers and stealing two armoured vehicles.
The militants, identified as Jihadist Salafis operating in Gaza and Egypt, then drove to the Israel border, where Israeli air and ground forces blew up one of the vehicles and gunned down others, killing at least eight in total.
Officials offered condolences to Egypt, but also called the attack a "wake up call" for the country often accused of failing to secure its restive Sinai region where Gaza, Egypt and Israel meet.
(SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:
"It turns out time and again that when it comes to the security of Israeli citizens, the state of Israel must and can rely only on itself".
This is the first test of its kind for new Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi who has promised to secure Egypt's borders and deal fairly with Israel.
It will also test Mursi's relationship with Hamas leaders who are promising an investigation into the incident.