Saudis Guarantee Freedom of ’Israelis’ Passage in Tiran Straits!
Local Editor
"Israeli" minister for military affairs Moshe Yaalon said that Saudi Arabia has given Tel Aviv written assurances that the kingdom will guarantee "Israel" freedom of passage in the Tiran Straits.
The announcement came as Egypt is getting ready to transfer the sovereignty over two strategic islands in the straits to Saudi Arabia.
In this regard, "Israeli" public radio and several newspapers cited Yaalon as saying on Tuesday that an agreement was reached between "Israel," Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United States under which Riyadh will continue to fulfill Egypt's commitment to free passage.
"We reached an understanding between the four parties -the Saudis, the Egyptians, "Israel" and the United States -- on the passing of responsibility for the islands, on condition that the Saudis step into the Egyptians' shoes regarding the military annex to the peace treaty," "Israeli" daily Haaretz quoted Yaalon as saying.
It was earlier on Saturday that Egypt announced that it ceded Tiran and Sanafir islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba to the Kingdom, claiming that they fell within the territorial waters of Saudi Arabia.
In return for the islands, Cairo is reportedly receiving USD 20 billion in aid from Saudi Arabia.
In further details, "Israeli" public radio cited Yaalon as saying that "the agreement on transferring the islands of Tiran and Sanafir from Egyptian control to Saudi control was done with "Israel's" assent."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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