Israel issues kidnap warning

Yesterday's warning refers to "concrete evidence of an expected

terrorist attempt to kidnap Israelis in Sinai".

The statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office took the unusual step of calling on families of Israelis touring the area to establish contact with them.

Israel's anti-terror office has a standing "travel advisory" issued, telling Israelis to stay out of the region because of the threat of terrorist attacks.

Thousands of Israelis routinely ignore the warning, however, and take holidays in the desert and along its sun-drenched Red Sea coast.

Egyptian security officials said about 35,000 Israelis are currently in the Sinai area and they expected thousands more to arrive later this month.

In the unusually strong statement, the Israeli anti-terror office called "on all Israelis residing in Sinai to leave immediately and return home.

Families of Israelis residing in Sinai are asked to contact them and update them on the travel warning."

Reports claim there are official fears Palestinian militants intend to kidnap Israelis and transfer them to the Gaza Strip through tunnels dug beneath its border with Egypt.

Civilians could be at risk although the more likely target would be Israeli soldiers.

In 2004, suicide bombers attacked Egypt's Taba Hilton Hotel, just across the Israeli border, and several campsites where Israelis are known to stay on holiday.

Dozens of people were killed and hundreds wounded.

Israel controlled the Sinai from its capture in the 1967 war until returning it to Egypt in 1982 in the framework of a peace treaty between the two nations.