Netafim Border Crossing
Encyclopedia
The Netafim Crossing is a border crossing between Israel
and Egypt
. It is located adjacent to Highway 12
, about 12 km north of Eilat, 1 km north west of Ein Netafim
.
The control of the border crossing was handed over to the Israel Airports Authority
in 1980; nowadays it is closed. Very seldom it is reopened under special circumstances.
There are plans to reopen the border crossing passage as alternative during festivals, in coordination with the Egyptian authorities .
The border line is guarded accurately on both sides, on the Israeli side alongside Highway 12
(one of the two accommodation roads to Eilat) by the Israel Border Police
and on the Egyptian side from some army positions.
The border crossing is in the proximity of the Israel National Trail
, but not exactly on the route, nevertheless many wanderers, who have lost their way, arrive at the border crossing to drink something.
, March 10, 1949, the Negev Brigade captured the abandoned position of the Jordanian Legion in Ras al-Naqb (hebr. ראס אל-נקב) exactly where the border crossing Netafim is located today.
As well during the Suez Crisis
in 1956, Ras al-Naqb was one of the important strategic positions to gain control of the Sinai Peninsula
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. It is located adjacent to Highway 12
Highway 12 (Israel)
Highway 12 is an expressway in the South District of Israel. It surrounds the mountains of Eilat from the north and west, and it connects Eilat to Highway 10 and Highway 40, which lead toward central Israel...
, about 12 km north of Eilat, 1 km north west of Ein Netafim
Ein Netafim
Ein Netafim is a water spring in the Eilat mountains located near the Israeli border with Egypt. The spring is located about seven kilometers north of the city of Eilat, near the Highway 12 road which leads to Eilat...
.
The control of the border crossing was handed over to the Israel Airports Authority
Israel Airports Authority
The Israel Airports Authority was founded in 1977 as a public corporation mandated by the Israel Airports Authority Law. The authority is responsible for the management of Israel's major civil airports and land-to-land border terminals between Israel and its neighbours...
in 1980; nowadays it is closed. Very seldom it is reopened under special circumstances.
There are plans to reopen the border crossing passage as alternative during festivals, in coordination with the Egyptian authorities .
The border line is guarded accurately on both sides, on the Israeli side alongside Highway 12
Highway 12 (Israel)
Highway 12 is an expressway in the South District of Israel. It surrounds the mountains of Eilat from the north and west, and it connects Eilat to Highway 10 and Highway 40, which lead toward central Israel...
(one of the two accommodation roads to Eilat) by the Israel Border Police
Israel Border Police
The Israel Border Police is the gendarmerie and border security branch of the Israel National Police. It is also commonly known by its Hebrew abbreviation Magav , meaning border guard, whilst its members are colloquially known as Magavnikim . Border Guard is often used as the official name of the...
and on the Egyptian side from some army positions.
The border crossing is in the proximity of the Israel National Trail
Israel National Trail
The Israel National Trail, is a hiking path that crosses the entire country of Israel. Its northern end is at Dan, near the Lebanese border in the far north of the country, and it extends to Eilat at the southernmost tip of Israel on the Red Sea, a length of approximately 940 km...
, but not exactly on the route, nevertheless many wanderers, who have lost their way, arrive at the border crossing to drink something.
History
In the last day of Operation OvdaOperation Ovda
Operation Uvda was an operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, from March 5 to March 10, 1949. It was the last campaign undertaken by the IDF during the war and its objective was to capture the southern Negev desert, which was claimed by the Kingdom of...
, March 10, 1949, the Negev Brigade captured the abandoned position of the Jordanian Legion in Ras al-Naqb (hebr. ראס אל-נקב) exactly where the border crossing Netafim is located today.
As well during the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
in 1956, Ras al-Naqb was one of the important strategic positions to gain control of the Sinai Peninsula
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
.