Unknown Armed Gang Attack Egypt Gas Pipeline ,flow to Israel and Jordan halted

Egyptian security officials said that an explosion rocked a natural gas terminal near Egypt's border with Israel on Wednesday sending flames shooting into the air and forcing the shutdown of the country's export pipeline.

Valves controlling the flow of gas to neighboring Jordan had been shut down as a result of the blast, according to Egyptian officials.

security source believe that an unknown armed gang attacked the gas pipeline near Arish city,the flow of gas to Israel and Jordan had been hit.

Yet no one can say if explosion was due to sabotage or an accident,because they were not officially authorized to speak to the media.

It 's not the first attack but last month on the al-Sabil terminal near the town of El-Arish just 30 miles (50 kilometers) from the border with Israel, a gunmen planted explosives at the terminal, which failed to detonate.On Feb.5 the same pipline was attacked by unknown.

Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure Uzi Landau warned that Israel "should be prepared for a situation where gas flow from Egypt would stop.

In response to the pipeline explosion, the Israel Electric Company said in a statement that it would use all available resources to ensure reliable service, "including the use of alternate fuels approved by the National Infrastructure Ministry and the Environmental Protection Ministry."haaretz said.

The state news agency reported that the main highway in the area was temporarily closed by protesting families of detainees before the army reopened it.
Egypt exports gas to Israel, Jordan and Syria, though lately the deals have come under attack because of the low price at which the gas is sold.

On Wednesday April,20 MENA reported that Egypt's prime minister has asked for the revision off all contracts to supply gas abroad, including to Israel.Egypt supplies an estimated 40 percent of Israel's gas in what, under ousted president Hosni Mubarak, was a highly controversial deal.

Prime Minister Essam Sharraf "has directed the revision and review of all gas contracts Egypt agreed to with all countries, including Jordan and Israel," MENA said.

Jordan depends on Egyptian gas to generate 80 percent of its electricity. The halt to the flow would force the country to rely on more expensive diesel fuel to keep the country's power plants running, haaretz reported.

It is noted that today's explosion comes amid investigations about corruption related to the exports of gas to Israel during former president Hosni Mubarak' sera. He was investigated on the issue over the weekend. Additionally, former senior oil officials, including former minister of oil Sameh Fahmi were arrested by the authorities.