UPDATE: TERROR IN SINAI

Over 35 killed in Taba truck bomb; Explosion in Ras a-Satan
At least 35 people were killed and over 114 were wounded, both Israelis and other nationals, in a large explosion at the Hilton Hotel in Taba, near the Israel-Egypt border after 10:00 p.m. Thursday evening. A fire is raging at the hotel. Israeli officials said the Taba Hotel explosion was caused by a truck bomb. There were 800 guests at the hotel, 100 of whom were Egyptian nationals. Most of the Israelis staying at the hotel were not near the hotel's lobby, but were eating at the restaurant at the time of the blast.

Searches showed the engine of a car in the hotel's lobby, Army Radio reported.

Soon after, two explosions rocked Ras a-Satan, another resort area in the Sinai Peninsula, near Nuweiba. The site, some 40 minutes from the border, is visited frequently by Israelis. Egyptian TV reported over 40 people were wounded in the explosions in Ras a-Satan. Ofer Menashe at Moon Island near Ras a-Satan said there were two blasts in the resort. Menashe said he did not stick around long enough to get more information. "As far as I can tell there are casualties there," he told Channel 1 TV.

Magen David Adom has put out a call for blood donations of the RH-negative type. Donations can be made at the MDA station at Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel-Aviv. The station will begin receiving donors at 2 a.m.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom asked that Egypt allow Israeli helicopters land in Sinai to evacuate the wounded. Egyptian officials have still not allowed the helicopters to reach the area. Shalom also asked that Israelis be allowed to pass in and out of Sinai without passport and security checks, to allow a quick return of Israelis back to the country and immediate entrance of medical personnel and Israeli officials into Sinai.

Although no group has claimed responsibility, and the official Egyptian stance is still unclear, Egyptian sources told Jerusalem that Egyptian military activity has cut off the Sinai Peninsula from the rest of the country. Egyptian officials believe that the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood is behind the attacks, Channel 10 TV reported.

Israel Insider is reporting celebrations in Gaza and Cairo.

See also "Bodies Strewn Everywhere" - Revital Levy-Stein
"There were dozens of bodies strewn everywhere, some of them children," said Rani, a paramedic from Eilat, standing at the entrance to the Hilton Hotel. "I personally saw about 30." (Ha'aretz)

See also "Exodus 2004"
Thousands of Israelis are leaving resorts in the Sinai Peninsula and returning to Israel following deadly terror attacks Thursday night. With little or no help from Egyptian authorities, Israelis are gathering their countrymen and making efforts to find anyone missing. (Jerusalem Post)

See also: Photographs Video

SEE ALSO: 3 Decades of Attacks on Jewish Targets and Israelis Abroad (Reuters/New York Times)

SEE ALSO: Israel Says al-Qaida Behind Resort Attacks