Despite Israel's concern...the Sinai train departs and specialists reveal its relationship to the Bar Lev line

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Despite Israel's annoyance, Egypt officially announced the start of the Sinai train. The Egyptian Ministry of Transport announced the launch of the Sinai Train Project, which includes the rehabilitation, development, and construction of the Al-Ferdan-East Port Said-Bir al-Abd-Arish-Taba railway line.

As the Egyptian Ministry says, the Qantara Line east of Bir al-Abd is one of the most prominent axes that contribute to linking North Sinai Governorate to the canal cities and from there to the rest of the governorates, which supports the movement of people and goods and serves the ongoing development projects.

The Railway Authority announced that it will operate 4 trips daily on this line between Qantara East and Bir al-Abd and vice versa, passing through 8 main stations: Qantara East - Jalbana - Baloza - Al-Salam - Rummana - June 30 - Najila - Bir al-Abd, stressing the continuation of modernization plans to raise the level of service and support sustainable development.

While the Ministry of Transport continues to operate daily flights to serve the people of North Sinai, this strategic connection raises increasing concern among Israeli circles, which view the preparation of roads and railways deep into Sinai as a strategic change that threatens its security and enhances Egypt’s strategic and security capabilities on its eastern borders.

In this context, military personnel and economists who spoke to Al-Arabiya.net and Al-Hadath.net believe that the project goes beyond the limits of being infrastructure and transport for citizens, as it is a pivotal turning point that redraws the geopolitical and economic weight of Sinai, and imposes a development reality that ends decades of geographical isolation and population vacuum, declaring that development and urbanization are the strongest shield to protect Egyptian national security.

In an analysis of the military vision, Major General Staff Yassin Taher, advisor to the Military Academy for Postgraduate and Strategic Studies, revealed to Al Arabiya.net and Al-Hadath.net that the project has a close historical background. It was established in the early part of the last century and the state was interested in developing it after the July 1952 revolution to serve the people and commercial activity and connect Sinai with the governorates of Egypt, before it stopped completely following the June 1967 war, explaining that Israel took advantage of its bars at that time to reinforce the fortifications of the Bar Lev Line.

Major General Taher added that in light of the current development boom, this ambitious project achieves a comprehensive vision to connect Sinai to the national railway network, which supports urban, agricultural and industrial development and creates a qualitative shift in logistical transport for national projects.

He pointed out that the secret of Israeli discomfort with the project is due to the fear of increasing Egypt’s strategic depth. Tel Aviv sees strengthening this connection as a strategic variable that should be monitored. It also considers it an addition to dual-use infrastructure, concluding by saying that the project is a strategic turning point, as it is “development” from Egypt’s point of view and a “security variable” from Israel’s point of view.

For his part, Dr. Karim Adel, head of the Justice Center for Economic and Strategic Studies, confirmed to Al Arabiya.net and Al Hadath.net that restarting train traffic via the Qantara East-Bir al-Abd line as a first step within the 500 km project is a pivotal turning point that completely redraws the geopolitical and economic weight of the peninsula, going beyond the concept of passenger service to establishing a sustainable development and sovereign vision.

Dr. Karim Adel explained that the project represents a logistical artery that contributes to reducing the costs of transporting huge mineral resources such as marble, gypsum and white sand by up to 40%, which ensures the continued supply of national factories and facilitates exports through direct linking between the sea ports in East Port Said, Al-Arish, Taba and Nuweiba, thus creating an international trade corridor linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and enhancing trade exchange with Jordan and the Gulf states.

On the social and demographic level, Dr. Adel pointed out that the line facilitates the movement of citizens, workers and students, and moves population density towards new cities such as “New Ismailia” and “Salam Misr”, ending decades of geographical isolation.

He concluded by saying, "Development is the strongest shield for national security, and linking North Sinai to the national grid establishes full sovereignty through sustainable logistical and economic projects."

The project to establish a railway network in Sinai has sparked rising waves of controversy and concern within Israeli media and political circles. According to Israeli press reports, Tel Aviv views the railway network project extending 500 kilometers from Al-Ferdan to Al-Arish and Taba as a transformation that goes beyond the limits of civil development, claiming that it carries dimensions that enhance military logistical capabilities and transport supplies quickly in times of crises, linking it to the expansions of the port and airport of Al-Arish.

On the other hand, the Egyptian authorities affirm that the comprehensive development of Sinai is an inherent sovereign right within its national borders to connect the region to the valley and change the population map.