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Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

Saudi Arabia plans to open Red Sea islands to Israeli tourists

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Jan 2023 22:08
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

Although two islands were purchased from Egypt in 2016, Saudi Arabia is planning to build a bridge linking the islands to Egypt. 

  • x
  • Tiran Island
    Tiran Island

Israeli news outlet Globes reported on Monday that Saudi Arabia is planning to make the Red Sea islands accessible to Israeli tourists.

Sources familiar with the matter told the news agency that Saudi Arabia will soon permit Israelis to obtain tourist visas to visit the islands of Tiran and Sanafir which will have hotels and casinos available. 

Although two islands were purchased from Egypt in 2016, Saudi Arabia is planning to build a bridge linking the islands to Egypt. 

The island of Tiran has been demilitarized as per the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli normalization agreement, yet it holds significant strategic importance as it engulfs the passage into the Red Sea up to "Eilat," "Israel's" economic and trade hub, in addition to the port of Aqaba in Jordan.

Despite a deal reached in 2016, Egypt delayed the implementation of the agreement, likely because it wanted to gain leverage with the US over reductions of US military aid to Egypt.

As per the 2016 agreement, a US-led multinational force of observers remained present in Tiran for years until it was required to leave the islands by the end of December 2022. 

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The report states that the presence of US forces was intended to secure "Israel's" marine traffic on trade routes in the case Saudi Arabia gained control of the exist from the Gulf of "Eilat." 

Read more: Egypt delays implementing Tiran and Sanafir deal with KSA: Axios

This issue was raised in discussions with President Joe Biden when he visited the region last summer. 

After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got re-elected last December, talks resumed regarding the advantages of Israeli tourists, the report states.

"At this stage, a solution is emerging that will leave Egypt with a vestige of sovereignty, thus achieving two goals: firstly, Egypt will have a veto on what happens on the islands; secondly, maintaining the peace agreement and giving Israelis the opportunity to vacation on the islands," the report adds.

Regarding prospects of an eventual peace with Saudi Arabia, sources told the news outlet that granting access to Israeli tourists to the Tiran and Sanafir islands effectively shows Saudi Arabia's desire to promote steps to further normalization. 

"It will be at a slow pace, with more additional steps that will bring the countries closer together, but the real breakthrough is not here yet. Things need to calm down a bit, we'll see where the Netanyahu government is headed, but in the end it's in the interest of all the countries involved to reach a full agreement," sources told the Globes. 

Read more: Israeli journalist from Riyadh: KSA-'Israel' ties closer than ever

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  • tourism
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi islands

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