Egyptian Military Officers Hold Israel in Sinai

                            

CAIRO, KOMPAS.com - The Egyptian government says it has arrested a man who allegedly was a military officer in the Israeli Taba, Sinai Peninsula since broke into the border, Monday (31/12/2012 ) night.

Egyptian news agency MENA reported that the man is a citizen of Russian descent Tel Aviv while being held could not show his passport. Besides not carry your passport, his name does not appear in the list of tourists visiting Egypt.

An Egyptian intelligence officials say a man named Andrei Pshenichnikov it was an officer of the army of Israel. Now, he was still arrested and are still undergoing investigation.

Sources in Egypt say security forces arrested Pshenichnikov is collecting information about the Sinai from Taba motorist located near the Egypt-Israel border.

However, Israeli media reported Pshenichnikov is a pro-Palestinian activist. This man, said the Israeli media, crossing the Egyptian border because they want to enter the Gaza Strip. Egyptians was banned from entering Gaza for security reasons.

Meanwhile, Pshenichnikov mother, Svetlana told Israel Radio confirmed her son is being held in Egypt. His son, said Svetlana, intending to go to Cairo through the Sinai to meet with colleagues from France.

"He has to get a visa (to visit Egypt) and go to Eilat, to go to Cairo," said Svetlana.

"But Israel border police stopped him and accused him of going across the border illegally. Police then detained him for several days. The police forced him to sign a statement would not go to Egypt, but he refused, "said Svetlana.

The woman told police her son had freed Israel Russia and Israel after his passport was checked its validity. However, on the same day he called and said he was from Taba Egypt police custody.

"After he completed his military obligation, he supported the Palestinian cause. He rented an apartment in a refugee camp in Bethlehem to prove to the locals that there are Israelis who want peace, "added Svetlana.