Opposition Questions Saudi-Egyptian deal on Red Sea Islands; They Claimed Sisi Sold Tiran and Sanafir for a ‘Fistful of Dollars’

Egypt had ceded its sovereignty over the two islands, Tiran and Sanafir in a Saudi-Egyptian deal on Red Sea Islands.  The two countries reached an agreement on the disputed maritime borders that now handed down the Red Sea Islands to Saudi's control. However, the opposition and legal experts in Egypt question the legitimacy of the deal, claiming Egypt President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi sold the islands to Saudi King Salman Bin Abdel Aziz for a fistful of dollars.

According to Ynet News, the Saudi-Egyptian deal on Red Sea Islands comes after Saudi King Salman visited Cairo. During the visit, he also announced an investment for Egypt and plans for Saudi aid. As reported by Egyptian newspaper Al-Youm Al-Sabaa via Ynet News, the meeting was one of the several meetings the two had in the past six years concerning the issue of the maritime boundaries. Egyptian opposition, the Muslim brotherhood and legal experts, however, questioned the legitimacy of the deal.

Experts say that the Saudi-Egyptian deal on Red Sea Islands was unconstitutional. It was also condemned by the large Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Middle East Eye claims. "The Muslim Brotherhood hereby declares unequivocally that no one has the right to abandon the property and resources of the Egyptian people in exchange for a fistful of dollars, or in exchange for support for government policies sanctioning murder, detentions, violations, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings," the movement said in a statement.

Exiled opposition politician Ayman Nour, had also expressed his rejection of the Saudi-Egyptian deal on Red Sea Islands.  He said that Sisi lost international credibility because of what he did. Nour added it doesn't mean that Egypt gets full support from Saudi.  The disputed islands of strategic importance were in control of Egypt, but Cairo and Riyadh were also claiming its ownership. It lies on the significant sea route leading to the Israeli port of Eilat and Jordanian port of Aqaba. Israeli conquered the islands during a Six Day war in 1967. In 1982, Egypt regained control over it.

In 2010, Egypt and Saudi Arabia began negotiating on their maritime borders. Meanwhile. BBC reported that Sisi received online backlash on the recent Saudi-Egyptian deal on Red Sea Islands. Sisi was mocked in various social media attacking his decision to give up the islands to Saudi. People claimed that it was a contravention of the constitution.

An announcement from the Egypt cabinet said that the Saudi-Egyptian deal on Red Sea Islands enables both the nations to benefit from the economic zone for each. During the announcement of the Egyptian official, a plan for many investments, including setting up an industrial zone for Egypt was announced.

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Saudi-Egyptian deal on Red Sea Islands, Tiran and Sanafir, Saudi King Salman Bin Abdel Aziz, Egypt President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, Sisi sold Red Sea islands to Saudi, Ayman Nour

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