The Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman (MBS) is planing to make the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir into a busy tourist destination open to Israelis.
Sources familiar with the matter affirmed that Saudi Arabia will allow Israelis to vacation on the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir, which it purchased from Egypt in 2016. Saudi Arabia plans building a bridge linking the islands to Egypt.
The deal setting the marine border between Egypt and Saudi Arabia was signed in 2016 despite opposition from some in Egypt.
Tiran and Sanafir were returned to Egypt by Israel as part of the peace agreement and some saw the islands as sacred Egyptian land.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi even delayed completion of the deal despite the fact that Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court had dismissed petitions against it, sparking popular outrage.
For its part, Israel demanded that the transfer of ownership of the islands not violate its peace agreement with Egypt, which stipulated that a multinational force led by the US would operate on them.
Israel also feared that the deal would lead to Saudi control of the exit from the Gulf of Eilat and wanted to ensure that Israeli marine traffic on trade routes would not be harmed.
This issue arose in discussions between the countries involved in the deal, including during US President Joe Biden’s visit to the region last summer.
Following Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election as prime minister at the end of last year, talks were renewed between the sides about the benefits for Israeli tourists.
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.
Israeli passport holders entering Egypt from Taba or Sharm el-Sheikh airport, will be able to spend time in the hotels and casinos operated by Saudi companies on the islands.
But what about eventual peace with Saudi Arabia? Political sources familiar with the matter affirmed that the opening of the Tiran and Sanafir islands to Israeli tourists indicates the Saudi desire to promote steps to move closer to Israel.
However, this vision will be realized gradually and through ways that do not have far-reaching political significance.
Sources say, “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.”
An Israeli journalist reported from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, about his impressions regarding the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and “Israel”, which are currently closer than ever, according to his estimation.
Israeli journalist Henrique Zimmermann said in press statements: “Within the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, we are witnessing the presence of a Jewish community in Riyadh and an activity of Israeli businessmen who have been working for some time in the kingdom.”
“We are standing at the beginning of a new era. There are new things that have started, but it needs more time,” he added.
The Israeli journalist indicated that “during recent weeks, news about official relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel and information regarding the establishment of future relations between the two parties have increased.”
