Flashpoint: Taba

Earlier this evening, the resort town of Taba - recently restored to Egypt from Israel - was the site of what will be remembered as one of the highest-profile terrorist attacks of our time. The Taba Hilton has been a common meeting place for leaders in the Middle East, and Taba itself is perhaps the most rosy symbol of Arab-Jewish cooperation, as the resort is a cheaper alternative to neighboring Elat for vacationing Israelis. Tonight, the Hilton was subjected to a major bombing, killing at least 16 and wounding over 135; other nearby resorts were also attacked.

The Washington Post is already fingering Al-Qaeda as a likely suspect, given the style and scale, though the World Islamic Group is claiming responsibility(Haaretz). Eye-witnesses indicate multiple explosions, including a car bomb and missile attacks from surrounding hills.

The likely consequences of this action will be intensified cooperation between U.S., Egyptian, Jordanian, and Israeli security. If Al-Qaeda is indeed responsible, this will be significant as the first major action directed against Israel, and if it represents a pattern, could change the dynamics of the War on Terror and the corresponding War on Infidels. More directly, this will set back Israeli tourism in Egypt and elsewhere, which was a key first step in establishing good working relationships between the private sectors and civil societies of each.

One bright spot is the level of cooperation achieved between Israeli and Egyptian relief and security forces in the aftermath. Some reports point to the difficulties had in negotiating the international border to get Israeli casualties back to the care and safety of Israeli hospitals, but by my estimation, the level of unplanned and high-pressure cooperation is a strong sign of trust along the border.