Heavily fortified road to Eilat reopens

Route 12 was closed in August following attacks by infiltrators from Egypt

By Gabe Fisher 26 February 2012, 10:58 am

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A road running along the Egyptian border from the northern Negev to Eilat reopened Sunday, seven months after a spate of terror attacks along the route claimed the lives of eight Israelis.

Route 12, which runs from Kibbutz Neot Smadar to Eilat along the Egyptian border, is now protected by observation posts and a heavy security fence, as well as increased patrols. The road was closed in August 2011 following a series of coordinated terror attacks carried out by infiltrators from Egypt.

Cooperation between Israeli and Egyptian security forces in the area has reportedly been increased in response to the infiltration.

Soldiers block Route 12 in the aftermath of a coordinated terror attack in August (photo credit: Nati Shohat/Flash90)

The level of security protection in the area is now “greatly improved,” Brig. Gen. Nadav Padan said on Thursday. About 100 kilometers of border fencing have been completed and the entire border will be properly fenced off by the summer.

Nonetheless, military officials recently cautioned that Hamas and other terror groups are exploiting the post-Mubarak disarray in the Egyptian-controlled Sinai to smuggle more terrorists into the area, and they are engaged in planning further attacks. The officials spoke at a briefing for reporters in the area.