A succinct warning issued by the council's Counter-Terrorism Division reads, "A concrete threat has developed in recent days regarding the abduction of Israeli citizens from the Sinai beaches; therefore, the National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Division recommends that all Israelis in Sinai leave immediately."
Israelis continue to flock to Sinai, which was controlled by Israel from 1967 until 1982, despite several attacks and repeated advisories from government agencies advising against it. Though the last two Sinai attacks targeted tourists in Dahab (not necessarily Israelis) and members of the Multinational Force station in Sinai, the council emphasizes that the current threat is aimed specifically at Israeli Jews.
IDF intelligence believes that Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups have been operating freely in the Sinai, with the Egyptian government hesitant to combat them head-on due to fear of attacks on Egypt's cities.
Three major bomb attacks on tourist sites have taken place there in the past two years, killing more than 100 people. Prior to the attack in Dahab two weeks ago, Sharm e-Sheikh was bombed in July and Taba was bombed in 2004.
The National Security Council was established in 1999, following Government Resolution 4889, "to serve as a centralized body for, and providing information to, the Prime Minister and the Government regarding issues of national security."
The council operates in accordance with directives issued by the Prime Minister and chairman answers directly to him as well.