[THS] U.S., Israeli Warships Cross Suez Canal Toward Red Sea

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http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25770.htm


Report: U.S., Israeli Warships Cross Suez Canal Toward Red Sea

Egypt opposition angered at government for allowing the fleet of more than 12 ships
to cross Egyptian manned waterway, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reports.

By Jack Khoury

June 19, 2010 "Haaretz" -- More than twelve United States Naval warships and at
least one Israeli ship crossed the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on Friday, British
Arabic Language newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported Saturday.

According to the report, thousands of Egyptian soldiers were deployed along the
Suez Canal guarding the ships' passage, which included a U.S. aircraft carrier.

The Suez Canal is a strategic Egyptian waterway which connects between the
Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

According to eyewitnesses, the U.S. battleships were the largest to have crossed the
Canal in many years, Al-Quds reported.

Egyptian opposition members have criticized the government for cooperating with the
U.S. and Israeli forces and allowing the ships' passage through Egyptian territorial
waters.

They said they viewed the event as Egyptian participation in an international scandal,
and added that the opposition would not sit with its arms crossed while the country
allowed a fleet of U.S. and Israeli military ships to cross.