Assessing Egyptian Public Support for Security Crackdowns in the Sinai

Egypt, a pivotal country in the Middle East, is facing a significant terrorism problem emanating from the strategically important Sinai Peninsula, which borders the vital Suez Canal waterway to its west and Israel and the unstable Gaza Strip to its east. Terrorist groups in the Sinai have not only attacked Egyptian security forces and foreign tourists in that region (along with periodic attacks against Israeli border posts) but have taken their fight to the Egyptian mainland, which has caused anxiety among the public. The Egyptian government has used heavy-handed tactics against these terrorist groups and their sympathizers in the Sinai, but with mixed results. Although the level of violence has dipped since the summer of 2013, the terrorist groups continue to be active.