The deadly attack on Korean tourists on the Israeli-Egyptian border in Sinai was definitely a shock to all of us. Our Korean-Austrian intern, Byeongsun Ahn wrote about this terrorist attack. One of our Korean friends personally knew the Korean tour guide who had been here for twenty years, knew Egypt well, and loved the country. The tour guide and the bus driver were brave in preventing the terrorist from entering the bus. If that would have happened there would have been more victims. Our condolences are with the families of the victims.

We have had over 30 students interning with us at the Center for Arab-West Understanding (CAWU) in 2013. After the attack we have also received new applications. Our interns and I go around Cairo to meet people of interest to our students and have only experienced very friendly Egyptians, wherever we went. In no way do any of us feel unsafe. Of course one should use good common sense. It is certainly not wise for anyone to travel to Sinai or go into a demonstration since these, even if very small, can easily erupt into violence. We have thus developed security guidelines for our interns.

Cairo is safe, but also during my travels around the country, locations of the Holy Family in the Delta, I have experienced how extremely beautiful Egypt is. This is not only found in the historical locations one can visit, but also in the beauty of the Egyptian people; always friendly, always hospitable, always ready to chat and explain whatever moves them. There can be obstacles, but they also can be overcome. Read about this experience here.

Terrorism is in Egypt has aimed at intimidating foreign tourists--the very tourists that Egyptians so much would like to see come back and that the country needs for its economic recovery.  Such terrorism should be combated, though the methods of doing so differ. 

Cornelis Hulsman,

Editor-in-chief, Arab-West Report