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Despite dire warnings being issued by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, young (and not so young) Israeli holiday seekers seem to be constantly lured to the pristine beauty of the Sinai’s Red Sea beaches. And why not, with the promise of low cost sub-tropical holidays in surroundings that with a bit of imagination can almost be compared to the haunting beauty of the Seychelles, Mauritius Islands, or even Phuket Thailand. All of this is available for those willing to risk a worsening security situation that is becoming more serious in a resort area that Egypt still likes to call its “Red Sea Riviera”.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism has done a very good job in both promoting and up-scaling the resort facilities in many parts of the eastern Sinai coast, with virtually everything available for those willing to pay. These attractions include an 18 hole golf course, casinos, and Five Star hotels and holiday resorts. The majority of Israeli ‘trippers’, however, prefer the more modest accommodations, where they can stay in thatched beach-side huts for sums as low as $ 5 per day. They are also attracted to the ‘anything goes’ atmosphere where drugs, easy sex and other pleasures are always available.

The “down side” to this ‘garden of earthly delights’ has been shown on television in more increasing occurrences. Less than two years ago, the terror attacks on the Taiba Hilton Hotel as well as at beach resorts in Di-Zahav resulted in the deaths of 34 people; 13 of them Israelis. Only a year later, an even more ferocious terror attack occurred in the resort city of Sharam al-Sheikh in which 90 people were killed; fortunately none were from Israel. And as recently as April, 2006, still another terror attack killed 23 tourists; the majority of them, ironically Egyptian.

With increasing terror attacks world-wide, especially in light of recent ‘event’s’ in Israel’s neighborhood, acts of terror against Israelis are likely to occur virtually anywhere – especially in resort areas close to Israel. Turkey’s recent terror attacks in both Istanbul and Anatalia can only mean that the Sinai resorts have not seen the last of terrorism incidents. Islamic extremism is on the rise in Egypt, and we must all remember that some of the worst terrorism organizations, including Al Qaeda and the Islamic Jihad have had their origins in Egypt. Egyptian President Mubarak is now in his late seventies with no strong heir-apparent to continue his secular governmental policies. It would not take much for this country, reputed to have the fastest growing Muslim population in the world, to become an Islamic republic.

With the Jewish High Holidays approaching, including the 8 day Sukkot festival, many Israelis will once again be lured to the attractions of the sandy Sinai beaches. But now it is becoming ever more evident that despite no tsunami-type dangers, there are risks even more serious to those who dare to disregard Israeli security warnings. Yes, there is indeed much trouble in paradise.

(Photograph courtesy of Crystal Images)