An explosion shook a terminal near border with Egypt with Israel of natural gas, on Wednesday, sending flames shooting into the air in the early hours of the morning and forcing the closure of the country's export pipeline.
It was the second attack just last month on al-Sabil terminal near the town of El-Arish just 30 miles (50 km) of Israel. On 27 March, armed men have planted explosives in the terminal, which did not detonate.
Gas flow rate of the main terminal at Port said on the Mediterranean coast has been closed to smother the 65 feet (20 meters) flames, cutting exports of gas for Israel, the Jordan and the Syria. The fire continued to rage well past dawn.
"Those who carried out the explosion have harmed people more than any other Sinai," said Abdul-Wahab Mabrouk, the Governor of the Northern Sinai, by inspecting the site. He said the explosion also damaged the local power plant and the leakage of gas people forced to evacuate their homes.
He complained that the security situation was still weak and there is not enough police.
Maya Etzioni, a spokesman for the Ministry of infrastructure of Israel, confirmed that the gas supply was cut early Wednesday.
Tribes in the region have attacked the pipeline in the past, including the February 5, when a different section was destroyed, export to Israel and the Jordan a month. They also attempt to sabotage the pipeline in July 2010.
Security forces often clash with Bedouins in the Sinai Peninsula, who complain of being neglected and oppressed by the central Government. Tribes are trying to draw attention to their grievances by blocking roads, burning tires, or attacking the infrastructure.
On Tuesday, the news agency reported that the main road in the area was temporarily closed by protest against the families of the detainees until the army reopened it. Attacks by militants on resorts in the South of the Sinai between 2004 and 2006, thousands of Bedouins were arrested, increasing the local resentment of the central Government.
Egyptian forces in the Sinai are regulated by the peace treaty of 1979 with Israel which used to prohibit military forces, in the peninsula, leaving security in the hands of lightly armed police and border guards.
After the popular uprising in January and February, which forced the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak and disintegration of the police force, security has deteriorated further in the Sinai until the army was brought - with Israeli acquiescence.
Israeli infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau told Israeli Army Radio that Israel had allowed the Egyptians to lead military forces over Sinai to protect the pipeline beyond the number of troops authorized by the peace agreement.
"There are a lot of importance to the protection of the peace agreement with the Egypt, and the contract of gas with Israel is perhaps the most important agreement between us and the Egyptians, who founded the peace on a written document"but also on important economic interests "he says.
Asked if Israel has other alternatives if the natural gas supply is not resumed, said, "we are obviously preparing for these things." Israeli gas field known as "tamar" will begin to produce gas in 2013, he said, and will be able to provide gas to Israel needs. In the meantime Israel can produce electricity with coal, diesel and natural gas, it produces already, he said.
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