Barak Slams Egypt over Lax Security in Sinai

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday blasted Egypt over a "disturbing deterioration" in its security control over the lawless Sinai peninsula after a deadly border attack killed an Israeli civilian.

And he urged Egypt's incoming leadership to "take responsibility" for security in the strife-torn peninsula which shares a 240-kilometer (150-mile) border with Israel.

"We see here a disturbing deterioration in Egyptian control in the Sinai," he said of the attack which took place just hours after the final round of voting in Egypt's presidential election.

"We are waiting for the results of the election," he said in remarks communicated by a spokesman.

"Whoever wins, we expect them to take responsibility for all of Egypt's international commitments, including the peace treaty with Israel and the security arrangements in the Sinai, swiftly putting an end to these attacks."

Earlier, Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz said the lawlessness in Sinai would pose a significant challenge for Egypt's incoming leadership.

"There is no doubt that the situation in Sinai has become a security problem and the incident today is a new stage in the escalation," he said in an interview on Israel's army radio.

"I believe it is also a significant challenge for the elected leadership in Egypt,' he said, just hours after the Muslim Brotherhood claimed victory in Egypt's first free presidential elections following a run-off vote.

There was no official confirmation of the claim that Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi had won 52 percent of the vote.

"We must also demand more action from the Egyptians in Sinai. Our highest objective must be to protect the peace agreement," Mofaz said.

"I very much hope it will be possible to have security and military dialogue with Egypt, military-to-military," he added.

Asked about an eventual green light for the deployment of further Egyptian troops into Sinai, Mofaz said such a decision would have to be taken "in the context of dialogue with the new Egyptian leadership."

Over the last nine months, Cairo has reportedly sought Israel's approval on several occasions for a temporary increase of troops in the restive peninsula, the number of which are limited by the 1979 peace treaty.