Israeli-Egyptian Taba crossing closed over terror threat

Israel’s security authorities Monday shut the Taba crossing’s exits into Egyptian Sinai for the first time, following an extreme terror warning in the immediate term.  After Islamic State bombing attacks on two Coptic churches on Palm Sunday, inflicting 45 deaths and more than 150 injured, the counter-terrorism committee in Jerusalem reissued its travel advisory.The crossing itself is considered to be a target for Islamist terrorists. It is more urgent than ever, said the statement, for Israeli trippers to stay away from Sinai and those already present at its beach resorts to leave forthwith. Ignoring the two terror warnings hitherto, about 10,000 Israelis have crossed into Sinai for the Passover festival, a majority Israeli Arabs. Taba will remain closed for departures until after the festival on April 18 when the situation will be reassessed.