Egypt's Sinai peninsula has long acted as the flashpoint for undercurrents at play in the wider region, a dynamic that is reflected in the escalating series of attacks by Islamist militants against Egyptian troops in the peninsula. This trend reached a new peak on Friday when more than 30 soldiers were killed in two attacks, the worst since Muslim Brotherhood president Mohammed Morsi was in office.
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi responded by declaring a three-month state of emergency in the peninsula, a move that will include imposing a nightly curfew and ought to help bring greater stability. Before entering politics, Mr El Sisi was the military commander in the peninsula, so he is fully aware of the situation.
His actions to end this bloody internal insurgency deserve support, just as the attackers responsible for this latest attack warrant condemnation. A statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack as a “heinous crime” and expressed its solidarity with Egypt and its armed forces. No group immediately claimed they were behind the suicide car bomb in El Arish, which was by far the deadlier of the two attacks on Friday, but it bears striking similarities to actions by Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, Egypt’s most active militant group. The group said it supports ISIL, the extremist faction that has overrun large areas in Iraq and Syria, but has not formed a formal alliance with it.
That helps explain the region-wide undercurrents at play in Sinai, and why the Egyptian government deserves support to prevail over the extremists. One reason why Mr El Sisi’s presidency has been welcomed in most of the Arab world and the international community at large is that he would be able to restore stability and allow Egypt to prosper.
A driving force in the Egyptian revolution – and in the Arab Spring generally – was the belief by average citizens that stagnating economies prevented them forging a decent living for themselves and their families. Reviving Egypt’s economy will address this legitimate concern, but that requires stability. That is particularly so for tourism, one of Egypt’s biggest foreign income earners. The southern Sinai peninsula was, along with the Nile river, the heartland of Egypt’s tourism industry but has, understandably, been devastated by the ongoing violence. We encourage Mr El Sisi to bring peace to Sinai, for the benefit of all Egyptians.
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
The Specs
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Power: 118hp
Torque: 149Nm
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UAE athletes heading to Paris 2024
Equestrian
Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Al Marzooqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Karbi (four to be selected).
Judo
Men: Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (66kg), Nugzari Tatalashvili (81kg), Aram Grigorian (90kg), Dzhafar Kostoev (100kg), Magomedomar Magomedomarov (+100kg); women's Khorloodoi Bishrelt (52kg).
Cycling
Safia Al Sayegh (women's road race).
Swimming
Men: Yousef Rashid Al Matroushi (100m freestyle); women: Maha Abdullah Al Shehi (200m freestyle).
Athletics
Maryam Mohammed Al Farsi (women's 100 metres).
COMPANY PROFILE
Company: Eco Way
Started: December 2023
Founder: Ivan Kroshnyi
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Electric vehicles
Investors: Bootstrapped with undisclosed funding. Looking to raise funds from outside
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
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TWISTERS
Director:+Lee+Isaac+Chung
Starring:+Glen+Powell,+Daisy+Edgar-Jones,+Anthony+Ramos
Rating:+2.5/5
Apple's Lockdown Mode at a glance
At launch, Lockdown Mode will include the following protections:
Messages: Most attachment types other than images are blocked. Some features, like link previews, are disabled
Web browsing: Certain complex web technologies, like just-in-time JavaScript compilation, are disabled unless the user excludes a trusted site from Lockdown Mode
Apple services: Incoming invitations and service requests, including FaceTime calls, are blocked if the user has not previously sent the initiator a call or request
Connectivity: Wired connections with a computer or accessory are blocked when an iPhone is locked
Configurations: Configuration profiles cannot be installed, and the device cannot enroll into mobile device management while Lockdown Mode is on
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
Maestro
Director: Bradley Cooper
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Maya Hawke
Rating: 3/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.