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Sinai war film maker admits error Sinai war film maker admits error
(about 16 hours later)
An Israeli documentary maker whose film provoked a diplomatic row with Egypt has admitted he misidentified Palestinian war dead as Egyptians.An Israeli documentary maker whose film provoked a diplomatic row with Egypt has admitted he misidentified Palestinian war dead as Egyptians.
Ron Edelist told Jerusalem Post about his erroneous identification of 250 fighters killed in action by a crack Israeli unit during the 1967 war.Ron Edelist told Jerusalem Post about his erroneous identification of 250 fighters killed in action by a crack Israeli unit during the 1967 war.
After the film aired last week, Israel strongly denied the dead had been Egyptian POWs executed by its forces.After the film aired last week, Israel strongly denied the dead had been Egyptian POWs executed by its forces.
An Israeli cabinet member who led the unit postponed a trip to Egypt.An Israeli cabinet member who led the unit postponed a trip to Egypt.
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Israel's infrastructure minister, had been due in Cairo to discuss natural gas imports.Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Israel's infrastructure minister, had been due in Cairo to discuss natural gas imports.
The film, Spirit of Shaked, describes how soldiers pursued an "Egyptian commando" unit, 250 of whose fighters were killed in the ensuing battle.The film, Spirit of Shaked, describes how soldiers pursued an "Egyptian commando" unit, 250 of whose fighters were killed in the ensuing battle.
Mr Edelist admitted is reported to have admitted to the Post that he subsequently received documents showing that the commando unit - while technically under the auspices of the Egyptian army - were actually Palestinians. Mr Edelist admitted to the Post that he subsequently received documents showing that the commando unit - while technically under the auspices of the Egyptian army - were actually Palestinians.
Mr Edelist insists he does not believe the mistake has detracted from the film's overall message, which he said was meant to show that the unit did not use excessive force in its missions.Mr Edelist insists he does not believe the mistake has detracted from the film's overall message, which he said was meant to show that the unit did not use excessive force in its missions.
He acknowledged in the Jerusalem Post he had made a further mistake in using incorrect archival footage to illustrate the incident.He acknowledged in the Jerusalem Post he had made a further mistake in using incorrect archival footage to illustrate the incident.
Arrest threatArrest threat
Last week Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who takes a lead role in Egypt's negotiations with Israel, reportedly told Mr Ben-Eliezer not to come because he could be arrested.Last week Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who takes a lead role in Egypt's negotiations with Israel, reportedly told Mr Ben-Eliezer not to come because he could be arrested.
Egyptian media reported that the film alleged Egyptian POWs were executed by Israeli forces.Egyptian media reported that the film alleged Egyptian POWs were executed by Israeli forces.
The affair has dominated Egyptian headlines and sparked an angry debate in parliament. The foreign ministry summoned Israel's ambassador in Cairo for an explanation.The affair has dominated Egyptian headlines and sparked an angry debate in parliament. The foreign ministry summoned Israel's ambassador in Cairo for an explanation.
Israel captured the arid Sinai peninsula from Egypt in the Six Day war of 1967, with Egypt counterattacking in the 1973 war. The two sides signed a peace treaty in 1979 and Sinai was returned to Egypt.Israel captured the arid Sinai peninsula from Egypt in the Six Day war of 1967, with Egypt counterattacking in the 1973 war. The two sides signed a peace treaty in 1979 and Sinai was returned to Egypt.
Claims that Israeli troops massacred about 1,000 Egyptian POWs in several incidents in 1967 were first raised in 1995 by Israeli military researcher Aryeh Yitzhaki.Claims that Israeli troops massacred about 1,000 Egyptian POWs in several incidents in 1967 were first raised in 1995 by Israeli military researcher Aryeh Yitzhaki.
The government denied systematically killing POWs at the end of the war, but the story soured relations between Israel and Egypt for months.The government denied systematically killing POWs at the end of the war, but the story soured relations between Israel and Egypt for months.
At the time Mr Ben-Eliezer said he was not aware of any POW killings by his troops.At the time Mr Ben-Eliezer said he was not aware of any POW killings by his troops.