I have seen news items about the 3 bombs - Nuweida, Taba and (I think) Eilat. What is local feeling? I have only read good reports of the atmosphere and friendliness of the area... It doesn't tally with the death toll. We would still like to travel, but are considering the options. Anyone have their own comments?
Thanks.

Sorry ... I was slightly misinformed. There were two explosions near beaches in Nuweiba. The main explosion was at the Taba Hilton (19 reported killed) - there were no explosions in Eilat, it is were most of the injured are being treated.

This is indeed a very sad news,i know for a fact that most egyptians r not happy with all the bombing and killing,,after all,,this will not do egypt any good....as it depends on tourisim a lot.
may god bless us all.
take care
and best wishes.
marimar_72

I have seen it. And it makes me furious!!!!!

I still don't know what to think of it. The Sinai peninsula is a somewhat tricky area after Israel occupied it in 1967 (I think). It was Israel area until 1978, when it was returned to Egypt according to the Camp David accords. But in these accords also was included that Israel citizens remained to have free access to the Sinai area (or maybe just the strip along the Gulf of Aqaba). It is a very popular holiday destination for people from Israel and, according to my Egyptian friends, they behave as if they still possess this land.
Whether right or wrong; it is an area where many emotions, religions, political views, old feelings of pain and wounded pride are in collision.

I have been in contact with my Egyptian friend last night and I have heard his view. I heard the Western views this morning on our national news. And I guess the real cause is somewhere in the middle.

I have no doubt that Israeli tourists were the target, and also I have no doubt that Egypt was the target.
The question WHY is something both the West and the Middle East need to ask themselves.

Egypt will be hurt by this!! Very much!! 45% of her national income is depending on tourism! Yet again tourists will stay away because of this. That is the following blow the people of Egypt will suffer. Because it is not that 19 dead people that are the victims, there are so many, many more!

Well said Dora :-)

Thank you, Marimar,

"The question WHY is something both the West and the Middle East need to ask themselves."

To me that is the real question! It has many angles.

But, but, but.. I fear this question will not be asked or heared.

Still, I think Egypt is one of the safest countries on this earth. It has so much to share and to offer!

Why is it that FEAR is allowed to rule this earth? Why is it that people use FEAR as a weapon? Why do people feel they need a weapon???

I wished I had the answer. Differences are only there to make people force to cross that border. In order to understand and become more close. Differences are challenges.
And what we saw last night is not the answer!

A sad Dora.

I'm suppose to leave for Jordan tonight, followed by a stay in Sharm.
My feelings about the journey have now greatly changed.
Should I decide to go through with it,thats means that tonight, my wife and I will watch the debates at JFK in a lounge full of Jordanian Arabs.

Strange days.

Yes, Neal, strange days!

And, to my grief, not so strange. How many times before have we seen this kind of violence?

I suggest you to go on with this trip and try to meet some people from Jordan and exchange the pain that is felt on both sides. Make friends.
That is the only way to fight this crazy kind of war.

After this I think Egypt is more safe than ever.

Love (to me that still is the only answer), Dora.

I am sitting on my terrace, in my not yet quite finished hotel next door to the Tropicana Hotel in Nuweiba.

The weather is calm, slightly cool and another quiet, peaceful and relaxing has just run its course here.

I drove today on the Nuweiba - Taba road, almost as far as the Taba check point. Many Israelis were driving home, but that was to be expected as their holiday is drawing to a close. Others, as well as Egyptians and Europeans were out on the beaches, swimming in the sea, enjoying themselves in the sun.... all having fun.

And yet last night we heard two thunderous explosions shattering the northern sky... the sad, tragic news filtered through to us, first on the internet, then radio and then television.

The horrors of last night were like a nightmare to us this morning - was it really true ? - did it really happen ?

Yes, we all thought that it could never happen here. We poohed poohed the warnings three weeks ago.

Then absolute terror revealed itself.

This evening Nuweiba is again calm and peaceful. Guests in the neighbouring hotels are about to enjoy their dinners. Its as if nothing had happened.

Can it happen again ? I never imagined that it could happen in the first place, so how can I imagine it will not happen again. I could not promise guests that they would be 100 % safe here, no one can. But I can not promise that their flight will arrive safely, nor that they will arrive safely at the airport in their own country. No one can.

But Nuweiba is so peaceful and safe. So very, very safe. I am almost certain that it will not happen again. One thing is for sure, the security has always been good here in Sinai - and now its going to be impregnable ! And this attack was clearly aimed at the Israelis in particular.

So do come. Come and enjoy yourselves here in this tranquil haven where the local people are yearning to welcome you !

Do come. Please.

Don't let the terrorists win.

Hello;
My thoughts and anxieties. I am travelling to Egypt solo in December. And this scares me. I really wish it didn't because I am so very congnizant that this occurs on a statistically insignifacnt frequency, but I can't help but be a little anxious. I plan to get over my emotions and go anyways. Are these feelings rational?

I was planning on going from Cairo to Alexandria and to Luxor over two weeks. Would you change your itinirary (or go to Egypt at all?) given the tragic events of the last day?

Arvin

Arvdaddy,

Regarding American tourists in southern Egypt and the Sinai:
Security was tight before, it will be super-tight now.

I'm sheduled to be in Sharm next week.
I'm not really worried, but while there, I will be a little sad.

Still, I am going.

Well said nc

THIS A TERRIBLE THING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN EGYPT. I DID NOT REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE NUWEIBA ATTACKS. WHAT HAPPENED??? AGAIN THIS IS TERRIBLE.

Well ... we have decided that we will continue with our plans for a 2 week holiday. There are three reasons - 1, it seems to be such a marvellous place 2. we really need the best holiday 3. the concensus is that these were isolated incidents.
Our thoughts and hopes are with the families and friends affected by the blasts - be it physically or otherwise.
If you hear of Mouse or Lummox in Dahab next week say Hello - we'll gladly buy you a drink.

Guys from Egypt
we are safe and Egypt is safe.
put your fears away
israelian people were targeted not the tourists.

EGYPT IS SAFE AND WILL REMAIN SAFE.
THANKS
./Siso

You are not bringing much pride to your people.

I'm sure you would like to see your beloved country "Yudenrine" (Don't give us the regular b**lsh*t of "Jews are good, Israeli's are not" this kind of talking is not working well outside your narrow world), but dont forget: Its your people who did this (and the Deir el Bachari crime) and one day your Omar Suliman would not be able to shoot them in the head in the interrogating rooms and jailing their fathers and brothers as hostages. Since there will be no more of those Israeli's in your blessed country, who would you blame then?

I guess that 30 people who were left to bleed to their death in the Hilton debris (your police officers were probably collecting their daily fee from the Guns/drugs/prostitutes smugglers), are high price, but if we will never have to face your countries "blessings" we got out really cheap. May the desert remain a desert, and may we never have to face, have a nice life.

And I would like to send a last Farwell to Abd el hamid and Muhamad from Hilton Taba, and Saidun from Tango beach, may we meet in a better place

Bad things... :(

At least 35 died more than 100 were wounded - tourist from more than 10 countries.

I was in Sharm half a year ago, and planed to go again next month. Now it is really not clear where probability of explosion is higher - here at home in Moscow, or at the resort. ;(((((((

P.

g.l.s.h.

That kind of b*ll sh*t will not work either!!

This is what makes me really angry! All over the world people are grieving this attacks and this innocent people died. In stead of sharing that grief some people are looking to attack another innocent human being.
Are you just able to listen?? Or, at least, allow someone else to express his or her feelings. Because there is pain being expressed behind that. Pain from a different angle than yours, but just as significant and worth to be heard!

Your attack is just as vicious as........

Sorry. I believe in respect and love.

Love, Dora

What was stating in the warnings 3 weeks ago? Have further warnings been given?

The Israeli authorities gave a warning that Isarelis should not travel to Sinai ( as well as half a dozen other countries ) because they believed that a terrorist attack was imminent. Many Isaelis cancelled their holidays for the weekend of 15 September but then apparantly travelled later.

There are no other official warnings.

Egyptguide you were taken off VT before for pushing your own tour guide services ( which you are still doing but less openly ). Don't get knocked off for your fanatical political statements. And learn better English please - it will help you to be a better tour guide.

Dear Mr Siso (From Egypt),
First, You claim that Egypt is safe and call tourist to continue visit Egypt. This sounds ironic and naive after experiencing 3 bombs and 33 casualties.
Second, It looks like you imply that killing Israelis is ok. Without arguing about this, since this is a travel forum and not a political one, I would say that terror does not distinguish between color/sex etc there is Islamic terror in Saudi Arabia (against Arabs), in Spain, and many more.
By the way, you can see that half of the casualties were non Israeli, so how can you say that your country is safe?

Facts: Radical Islam was always a problem in Egypt, controlled relatively successfully by the Egyptian government (brutally yet efficiently).
The Egyptian security in the beaches is amateur from several reasons: 1. The area is big and hard to keep. 2. The peaceful atmosphere governing the Sinai peninsula will be badly effected if security tightens.

Mr. Muller,

I see you just signed in today. But I suspect that is an alias; I am quite sure you were around before under another name. May I ask why?

You seem to read in Siso's words more than I can detect from them and use them to portray your own political views. That is not really fair!

What happened in Egypt was more than tragic! And it is quite obvious that Israeli people were the target. I regret that more than you will know as well as all the other casualties.
As I said before I am quite sure that Egypt was the target as well.

This is not the time to spread hate or attack one another. It is clear that people are afraid. People in Israel, people in Egypt and a lot of other people.
I am worried too. But not because I will not feel safe again in Egypt. It is just like Egyptguide said: When it is our time it is our time. And it can be any where, any place, any time. When we allow fear to rule our lifes those terrorists will have won!

No one is asking the question: WHY?? Nobody will listen. The only responce that seems to be taken is retaliation: answering violence with violence. And thus taking this world down and down.

There is a Brazilian proverb:

We all want to smoke the Peace Pipe, but nobody is willing to supply the Tobacco!

Love, Dora.

Well said Dora.

Siso was not displaying any anti Isaeli sentiment or anyhing like that. Simply that the bombs were aimed at Israelis and that the fact that they ( the terrorists ) achieved their desired effect by terrorising 10000 - 20000 Isaelis to pack their bags and return back to Israel within 24 hours means that the risk has gone down.

Despite these bombings Egypt is a safe country - you don't see random shootings of young teenage girls for the fun of it as just happened in the UK, or mob violence in the form soccer hooligans, or racially motivated attacks, or drung related murders - you don't even see a mugging !

The terror of last week is horrifying - remember I was only 15 km away ! I still feel depressed and bitter. But I do still absolutely safe. I will be driving back to Nuweiba on Tuesday or Wednesday with my wife. Would I take my wife if I thought it was not safe ?

The victims of those bombs were of mixed nationalities - Israeli, Russian, Egyptian, Italian and others. Of the Israelis some were Arab Isaelis, some were Jewish. Traditionally the Jewish Isaelis who tend to visit Sinai are the more liberal minded - the type who are moe likely to make peace with the surrounding Arab nations.

This terrorist act was an act of war against peace and humanity !

Don't let the terrorists win ! Fight for peace !

In support of your words...
A couple of hours ago one more victim of Taba was identified - Anna Akhmetova from Russian town of Al'met'yevsk (in Tatarstan). I do not know whether she was a religious person or not, but Tatarstan is traditionally Moslem region of Russia.

Dear Dora,

Its my first time ever using this or any other forum. I'll take your comment as a complement...
I agree with what you have wrote. Actually, I agree with most of the written opinions here, and wouldn't have responded unless some Egyptians writers implied that their country is safe when there is still blood drilling on their land.

Terror is anywhere against everybody. Now, about 12 Israeli's, 2 Italians, 2 Russians and about 15 Egyptians were killed. In the resent past: hundreds of Australians died in far east (Indonesia I believe but not sure) 2 years ago in a terror attack, about hundred Spanish people ( Madrid 2 years ago), 3000 Americans (Sep 11) and 400 Russians (2 months ago). anywhere. You don't get it until its your home land, and then you will say: we should have been more determine against terror when we could.
What's my point? 1. If a major terror attack occurred in your country and (especially if you own a tourist office) you should take a breath and wait for a few seconds before you encourage people to visit your country when the blood hasn’t dried out yet. 2. People should keep traveling and enjoying their lives since they cant hide all the time. Let the things calm down in Egypt for the near future before traveling there again. (Beautiful Egypt was there for thousands of years - It will wait some more)...

OK, Mister Muller,

I apologize.

A lot of what you are saying is right.

But I do not agree with your statement that Egypt or Egyptian people should stop saying that their country is safe, because I think Egypt is a safe country. At least as safe as about most other countries.
What's the point here is that Egypt is a third world country and millions of people there are solely depending on the tourism business. When the tourists will stay away entire families will be on the verge of starvation.
That is what I meant when I said that there are so many, many more innocent victims. Unidentified victims, without a name or a face.

After the attacks in Spain there hardly was a downfall in tourism, people still are going to Indonesia or the US. But Egypt seems to suffer with every event that will take place. It took them about 2 years before the aftermath of 9/11 was overcome.
Than the tourist flow collapsed again last year with the simple threat of an upcoming war in Iraq.
And this terror attack again will deprive people of hope for a decent future for themselves or their kids.
People are afraid! They need their country to be safe!

And it is safe! I am not afraid to say that! It is as safe as Spain, the US, Indonesia or Israel, for that matter.

Love, Dora.

Well said Dora.

I would go as far as to say that I consider it to be safer than most other places.

Yes there have been terrorist acts over the past twenty of years that have killed well over 100 foreigners, but there are no muggings, armed bank robberies, soccer related violence, drug related violent crime, racial violence etc etc.

I feel more safe walking at 3 a.m. in any part of Cairo than during the afternoon in some parts of Zurich !!!

I am driving after tomorrow back to Nuweiba, accompanied by my wife. I would not dream of letting her come along if I thought there was any risk.

Maybe it is all just an opinion - but I sincerely feel safe here. And I believe that the tourists will too.

G,day
I travelled to Egypt solo in Sept for 4 weeks.I went from cairo down south to aswan then back to cairo 10 days later.I then headed off to alex for 3 days before returning to cairo.Then I went to dahab for approx 14 days.I never had one problem during the whole trip & would reccomened it to anyone.I left cairo to return back to australia the day of the bombings.I was in taba 2 days before the event.Please dont think this sort of thing happens on a regular basis .The security in egypt is full on & they couldnt do anything else.Just go on your trip & experience egypt or you will feel like *** always wondering what it was like.

Regards

Pat