"The Bedouin tribes of the Sinai resist development plans for the peninsula," Amr el-Dessouqi of the Local Development Ministry told the consultative Shura Council at a meeting of the council’s defense committee on Wednesday.
"Tribal chiefs have lost their influence, especially among the young, who no longer take them seriously," he added.
Sinai has been the scene of repeated protests over the past four years, with young bedouins frequently clashing with police over issues such as the mistreatment of detainees and random security sweeps in the area.
"Sinai is left open for the Israelis to grab," warned council member Mohamed el-Hefnawy, who went on to criticize the government for neglecting what is known as the National Project for the Development of Sinai.
El-Hefnawy called for the creation of a minister-of-state portfolio to be specifically devoted to the development of the Sinai, "lest the peninsula turn into a totally isolated zone."
"Sinai continues to be targeted by the Israelis," said council majority leader Mohamed Ragab. "We must therefore begin development projects there right away."
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
