Israel journalist Yotam Feldman was arrested by Egyptian troops as he attempted to infiltrate southern Israel, apparently as on the spot research for a story. Feldman is now in Egyptian custody. Sources in Israel's defense establishment said they were working to secure his safe return to Israel.
Officials predicted that the journalist would be returned to Israel within the day.
According to Egyptian sources, Feldman was arrested along with an African migrant from Ghana as he attempted to leave Egypt for Israel. He was lightly injured while attempting to cross a barbed wire fence, sources said.
Channel 10 sources quoted by Maariv said Feldman had been working on a story on the growing number of African migrants infiltrating Israel via the Egyptian border. The story was to be presented on the program “HaMakor” (The Source).
Tens of thousands of citizens of various African countries have succeeded in entering Israel in recent years. On Sunday, the cabinet voted to construct a security barrier along the Egyptian border, at a cost of 1.35 billion shekels.