A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Monday, December 6, 2010

I Remember this Movie . . .

I don't know if you've been following the Egyptian shark story. I've left it alone, but now it's taken on such a resemblance to the plot of Jaws, I thought I'd note it.

Last week three Russians and a Ukrainian were attacked by a shark or sharks at Sharm al-Sheikh in Sinai. Experts said it was an Oceanic White-Tipped Shark, a deep water creature that rarely comes close to shore.

The authorities trapped and displayed two sharks, one an Oceanic White-Tipped, the other a Mako. Though that seemed to solve the problem, shark experts expressed doubt that the shark displayed was the one that carried out the attacks.

Assuming you've seen the movie, you know what happens next: thinking the shark has been caught, people go back in the water, that pulsing theme music starts to build . . .

And yesterday, an unfortunate 70-year-old German tourist was killed.

Now experts are being called in. Some are blaming overfishing; others claiming a ship carrying Australian sheep and cattle for sacrifice on ‘Id al-‘Adha dumped carcasses overboard (always a good idea off beach resorts).

Not good news for the tourist industry in any event.

No comments: