Egyptians Attack Israeli Embassy

Egyptian protesters have attacked the Israeli Embassy in Egypt. What were they mad about (other than the usual)?

“This action shows the state of anger and frustration the young Egyptian revolutionaries feel against Israel especially after the recent Israeli attacks on the Egyptian borders that led to the killing of Egyptian soldiers,” Egyptian political analyst Nabil Abdel Fattah told Reuters.

Egyptian police stood aside as activists tore down the concrete wall to the cheers of hundreds of demonstrators.

Well what about those recent attacks?

At least seven people have been killed in a series of attacks on vehicles in southern Israel, Israeli medics say.

The attacks began when gunmen fired at an Israeli bus that was travelling near the Egyptian border.

Officials said two other vehicles were hit – one by a rocket and one by an explosive device – and that several gunmen died in an ensuing firefight.

And the gunmen (seven of whom were killed) were Egyptian soldiers? OK.

So who were they? Really.

Israeli officials said the gunmen came from the Gaza Strip and had entered Israel through Egypt’s Sinai desert.

“The real source of the terror is in Gaza and we will act against them with full force and determination,” said Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak.

He also said that the “incident underscores the weak Egyptian hold on Sinai and the broadening of the activities of terrorists”.

A lot of excitement there. But so far no major casualties. If you count seven dead as minor.

Things are looking to get more exciting between Israel and Turkey.

“Turkey raising naval presence amid tension with Israel,” by Pinar Aydinli for Reuters, September 6:

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey is freezing defense trade with Israel and stepping up naval patrols in the eastern Mediterranean, highlighting a potentially destabilizing rift between the two major U.S. allies in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s threat on Tuesday to send warships into waters where Israel’s navy operates raises the risk of a naval confrontation between the two powers.

But that is not the only risk.

Turkey will be escorting the next Gaza flotilla.

“Turkish warships will be tasked with protecting the Turkish boats bringing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip,” Mr Erdogan told the Arabic television network Al Jazeera.

“From now on, we will no longer allow these ships to be the targets of attacks by Israel like the one on the Freedom Flotilla, because then Israel will have to deal with an appropriate response.”

You know. I think this means war.

Cross Posted at Power and Control