Egyptians protest against Saudi Arabia island deal

[Serpentine]

Egyptian police have fired tear gas at dozens of protesters who rallied against a controversial deal to hand two islands in the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia.

Key points:

• Activists angry at deal giving two islands to Saudi Arabia
• Officials say islands had always been Saudi
• President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi says deal was kept secret to avoid controversy

A police official said officers fired tear gas and made arrests at one of the protests in the Cairo neighbourhood of Mohandessin.

The deal to hand over two islands — Tiran and Sanafir — was signed during a visit by Saudi Arabia's King Salman to Cairo last week, and has provoked a storm of criticism against the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Outside the Journalists' Syndicate in central Cairo, about 200 protesters chanted "down with military rule", the signature slogan of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

"I'm protesting because of the overall situation in the country, not just the islands," said one of the demonstrators, Mohamed Hussein, an engineer.

On Thursday, police warned Egyptians not to hold demonstrations after activists called for rallies across Cairo after Friday prayers.

Mr Sisi, a former army chief who overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, led a crackdown on Islamists that killed hundreds of protesters.

Demonstrations not approved by the police have been banned, and earlier this week Egypt's interior ministry said it would take legal action against people who participate in them.

The calls for protests were issued by secular and Islamist activists who accuse Mr Sisi of "selling" the islands in return for Saudi investments.

Saudi and Egyptian officials say the islands belong to the kingdom and were only under Egyptian control because in 1950 Saudi Arabia had asked Cairo to protect them.

Even critics who concede that the islands belong to Saudi Arabia still took issue with the way Mr Sisi's administration announced the deal only after signing it.

On Wednesday, Mr Sisi gave a speech defending himself and saying the deal was kept secret to avoid controversy.

The President, who won elections in 2014, is reviled by Islamists and secular dissidents, but many Egyptians say they need a strong leader to revive the country's economy after years of unrest.

He enjoyed unwavering loyalty in much of the Egyptian media when he took office, but criticism of the president and his police force has grown in recent months.

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https://twitter.com/x/status/721008096735338496

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And the worst part? They needed written consent of Israel for this deal.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-confirms-it-gave-written-consent-to-saudi-island-transfer/

And Saudis gave written assurance to Israel.
Israel: Saudi Arabia Gave Written Assurances Over Freedom of Passage in Tiran Straits

Few more years and we shouldn't be surprised if Sisi sells Sinai Peninsula to Saudis for money and investment.

 

[Bilad al-Haramayn]

Tiran and Sanafir were Saudi Arabian islands until handed over to Egypt in 1950. They lie in Saudi Arabian territorial waters in the Gulf of Aqaba.

Both islands are uninhabited and the Saudi Arabia-Egypt Causeway will pass through Tiran Island.

Anyway this really does not matter as we have almost 1500 islands already and most are uninhabited.

Some of the approximately 1500 Saudi Arabian islands:

However it never hurts to increase your territorial size, not that we lack territory!

Two brotherly Arab nations and neighbors like KSA and Egypt can built a causeway whenever they want to and Israel has no say in that.

200 protestors ( ) as stated in the article (mainly MB gangs) in Cairo are completely irrelevant here given the history of those two islands. Sanafir and Tiran have simply been returned to their rightful owner. Nothing more and nothing less.

 

[Blackmoon]

It seems Saudi cannot buy Egyptians with money.
Saudis be like...

 

[ultron]

Islands come and islands go. Change is the only constant in the universe.

 

[libertad]

@Frogman

 

[Ceylal]

Sissi has already mortgaged the whole Egyptian population. A lot of Egyptians died in 67 protecting those Islands. If Morsi had done the same, he would have been hanged in Tahrir Square...Next Sinai will go on the auction block..

 

[Bilad al-Haramayn]

Sissi has already mortgaged the whole Egyptian population. A lot of Egyptians died in 67 protecting those Islands. If Morsi had done the same, he would have been hanged in Tahrir Square...Next Sinai will go on the auction block..

You do realize that those two islands (Tiran and Sanafir) were handed over to Egypt by KSA in 1950? They will now return to their rightful owner. See post 2.
Besides you are confusing Sinai with those two uninhabited islands. 95% of all Egyptians and Saudi Arabians had never heard about those two islands until recently.
Why in the good world would KSA want Sinai? More so do you really believe that Egypt would gift Sinai away to anybody? You are writing nonsense.
Lastly economically Egypt under al-Sisi is doing better than oil and gas rich Algeria. So I would frankly not worry about Egypt.
Instead of engaging in silly discussions among each other we should work towards a stronger Arab world on all fronts starting with our own countries. Thankfully that kind of thinking is gaining momentum among the youth of today.

 

[Solomon2]

Interesting. Somebody misrepresented the situation enough to stir up crowds and protest.

I think this could be a precursor to another "Free Officers"-type coup, waving the islands "deal" as justification in addition to the continuing corruption and unemployment.

 

[KediKesenFare3]

This case demonstrates how dishonorable al Sissi is. Tiran and Sanafir are Egyptian islands. How can you dare to give away a part of your own homeland to a foreign country? The Egyptian people should fight Sissi! This is not acceptable. The Egyptian State, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity.

 

[Hack-Hook]

This case demonstrates how dishonorable al Sissi is. Tiran and Sanafir are Egyptian islands. How can you dare to give away a part of your own homeland to a foreign country? The Egyptian people should fight Sissi! This is not acceptable. The Egyptian State, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity.

Show me a honorable politician who can stay in office ?

 

[Ceylal]

You do realize that those two islands (Tiran and Sanafir) were handed over to Egypt by KSA in 1950? They will now return to their rightful owner. See post 2.
Besides you are confusing Sinai with those two uninhabited islands. 95% of all Egyptians and Saudi Arabians had never heard about those two islands until recently.
Why in the good world would KSA want Sinai? More so do you really believe that Egypt would gift Sinai away to anybody? You are writing nonsense.
Lastly economically Egypt under al-Sisi is doing better than oil and gas rich Algeria. So I would frankly not worry about Egypt.
Instead of engaging in silly discussions among each other we should work towards a stronger Arab world on all fronts starting with our own countries. Thankfully that kind of thinking is gaining momentum among the youth of today.

Bullsit!
Those two inlets where always under Egypt jurisdiction.If they belonged to KSA, how come the Kingdom never laid a claim to them.?
The islands were integral part of the $16B of the Saudi-Egyptian joint venture to build the bridge across the red sea. The bad things about it, is that Sissi acts like Egypt is his dad's farm!
For stronger Arab world? Look at what became of the arab league under KSA leadership with Egyptian management!

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Unnecessary protest

Saudia - Egypt signed 12+ Billion economic deal , the islands are barren land close to Saudia shore

The two Islands most likely in 20-50 years will be under water due to global rising waters

 

[Bilad al-Haramayn]

Bullsit!
Those two inlets where always under Egypt jurisdiction.If they belonged to KSA, how come the Kingdom never laid a claim to them.?
The islands were integral part of the $16B of the Saudi-Egyptian joint venture to build the bridge across the red sea. The bad things about it, is that Sissi acts like Egypt is his dad's farm!
For stronger Arab world? Look at what became of the arab league under KSA leadership with Egyptian management!

Did you bother to read my post or the article in this thread? The security of those two islands was handed over to Egypt in 1950 by KSA amidst fears of Israeli takeover of the islands as they are located very strategically in the Gulf of Aqaba. Later those two islands like all of Sinai came under Israeli occupation! Afterwards Egyptian however it was always clear that should KSA demand jurisdiction over them again, they would have a very strong case given the history of the islands and the fact that they lie in Saudi Arabian territorial waters. Egyptian lawmakers have always known this to be the case.

This protest of 200 or something people in Cairo by mostly MB members/supporters is a protest against al-Sisi's rule as a whole. This news is just added fuel.

It's the obligation of all Arab states to move their countries forward and the Arab world as a whole. Responsibility nor blame can be put on single countries. What prevents the Algerian military junta from moving in the right direction or influencing events positively? Last time I checked, nothing at all. Nor is it exactly news that Arab and Muslim regimes by large are incompetent on many fronts. That is why my focus is on people rather than regimes as the Arab youth of today (2/3 of the population) will shape our future.

 

[XenoEnsi-14]

Islands come and islands go. Change is the only constant in the universe.

Puhleaze I owned everybody on PDF with my Epic Signature.

Let Saudi Arabia pick another fight with one of it's neighbors.

 

[Ceylal]

Did you bother to read my post or the article in this thread? The security of those two islands was handed over to Egypt in 1950 by KSA amidst fears of Israeli takeover of the islands as they are located very strategically in the Gulf of Aqaba. Later those two islands like all of Sinai came under Israeli occupation! Afterwards Egyptian however it was always clear that should KSA demand jurisdiction over them again, they would have a very strong case given the history of the islands and the fact that they lie in Saudi Arabian territorial waters. Egyptian lawmakers have always known this to be the case.

This protest of 200 or something people in Cairo by mostly MB members/supporters is a protest against al-Sisi's rule as a whole. This news is just added fuel.

It's the obligation of all Arab states to move their countries forward and the Arab world as a whole. Responsibility nor blame can be put on single countries. What prevents the Algerian military junta from moving in the right direction or influencing events positively? Last time I checked, nothing at all. Nor is it exactly news that Arab and Muslim regimes by large are incompetent on many fronts. That is why my focus is on people rather than regimes as the Arab youth of today (2/3 of the population) will shape our future.

I didn't bother to read your post due to your own utopia. Either your brain has been fed stupidities or you are playing stupid for the mere to show us that you love your country..We all, love our respective homeland, but most of us don't publish bullshit to make our government shines while they reek pestilence. Just look deep in your heart and be honest one time with yourself, name one good thing your monarchy contributed to this world or to the Arab world..All she did ( and I am not talking about the common Saudi, there are also victim to the eccentricities of the monarchs, is wreck the Arab and the Muslim world...