EGYPTIAN-ISRAELI COOPERATION THWARTS PALESTINIAN

UNCLAS CAIRO 001249 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER MEPN KPAL EG IS SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN-ISRAELI COOPERATION THWARTS PALESTINIAN INFILTRATION ATTEMPT Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) An Egyptian official responsible for border security issues told poloff on April 27 that Egyptian security forces confronted two suspected Palestinian terrorists in a "heavily tunneled" area along the Egyptian-Gaza border at dawn on April 26 after Israeli liaison alerted them to a potential infiltration effort. The official said one of the infiltrators escaped arrest and fled into Rafah town, where, as of April 29, he was still believed to be hiding. The official said that GOE security forces found a suicide belt, which they believe the infiltrator dropped, in Rafah town. ¶2. (SBU) According to the official, the second infiltrator lost an arm and was seriously wounded after dropping "approximately 100" crude explosive devices when Egyptian security confronted him. He remains hospitalized in the North Sinai town of Al Arish. The official could not confirm that the two men entered Egypt via a tunnel, but said it appeared highly likely. RICCIARDONE