Bassiouni dismisses Israel's alleged annexation of border area

Shura Council member Egyptian Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Bassiouni dismissed allegations by Yediot Ahronot newspaper's web site that the Israeli authorities annexed AL Mothalath El-Bahari (sea Triangle) area between the Egyptian Israeli borders in southern Eilat.

In an interview with Good Morning, Egypt TVprogramme, Bassiouni said this news report is totally groundless, stressing that there are red lines that cannot be tresspassed.

"Border demarcation was settled and President Hosni Mubarak exerted painstaking efforts in order to retrieve the last inch of the land of dear Sinai and Taba," said Bassiouni.

Meantime, Egypt said that, yesterday, it received explanation from the Israeli government about the groundless reports published by an Israeli daily newspaper, claiming that the Israeli government has annexed the "Sea Triangle" area, located on the Israeli-Egyptian borders south of Eilat.

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Egypt's Embassy in Tel Aviv had been asked to get clarification from the Israeli government about the reports published by the Israeli Yediot Aharanot newspaper.

The source added that the embassy has received a clear-cut explanation that the reports are totally groundless.