The supply of natural gas from Egypt to Israel has been halted yet again, after a blast on the pipeline last night. Masked gunman reportedly blew up part of the gas terminal at El Arish in the Sinai, about 50 kilometers from Israel's border.
First reports say that four gunmen carried out the attack. The assailants reportedly threatened the guards and forced them to flee, and after the guards left, the blast was heard. A major fire raged after the attack, which could be seen 20 kilometers away.
One report says that one of the guards and his family were hurt in the blast.
This latest attack comes just over a week after the previous blast. The Egyptian authorities had just completed repairs from that attack and the full supply of gas was due to be restored at the end of this week.
This is the fourth attack on the gas pipeline in the past six months. All three previous attacks took place in the Sinai.
Published by Globes, Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 12, 2011
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