The US, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are very close to completing the deal on the islands in the Red Sea
Israeli officials: Bennett, Lapid and Gantz have been updated in recent days on the details of the outline for completing the agreement and approved it in principle.
Saudi Arabia signs an agreement with Egypt, pledges to the United States security arrangements and safeguard Israeli freedom of navigation in the Straits of Tiran; the United States will give Israel guarantees for Saudi commitments
Lightning Ravid
29/06/2022
Wednesday, 29 June 2022, 21:59 Updated: 22:14
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In the video: Biden Bennett meeting at the White House (Photo: Reuters)
Diplomats and jurists from the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are very close to completing a series of agreements, understandings and letters of guarantee that will allow the completion of the deal on the strategic islands of Tiran and Red Sea Fin - they told Walla!
Three senior Israeli officials.
This, ahead of US President Joe Biden's upcoming visit to the Middle East.
why is it important
Completion of the deal would be a significant achievement for the Biden administration in the Middle East and could pave the way for a gradual process of normalization measures between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
However, because Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have diplomatic relations, they cannot directly sign an official agreement regarding the islands.
The states involved are now trying to use creative legal and diplomatic solutions to complete the agreement through indirect contacts.
Negotiated quietly between Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt. Biden (Photo: Reuters)
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A short reminder
According to the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, the islands of Tiran and Sanfir should be demilitarized, with an international observer force under American command.
In 2018, Egypt finally approved the transfer of the islands to Saudi Arabia.
Israel has agreed in principle to the move subject to the continuation of the activities of the International Observer Force, as stipulated in the peace agreement with Egypt.
More on Walla!
The diamond in the crown: Every normalization step by Saudi Arabia will be a resounding message to the region
To the full article
Update
In recent months, the Biden administration has been negotiating quietly between Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt over a deal that would complete the transfer of the islands from Egypt to Saudi Arabia.
At the heart of the negotiations was the question of how to respond to Saudi Arabia's demand to expel international observers from the islands, while at the same time maintaining the security arrangements and political commitments that Israel demands.
Israel wanted to make sure that the Egyptian commitments under the peace agreement also bind the Saudis, especially with regard to the agreement that allows Israeli ships freedom of navigation through the Tiran routes to and from the port of Eilat.
Two senior Israeli officials told Walla!
Because the Saudis have agreed to take on all Egyptian obligations - including the commitment to maintain freedom of navigation.
Behind the Scenes
Senior Israeli officials said that outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, incoming Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Bnei Gantz have been updated in recent days on the details of the outline for completing the agreement and approved it in principle.
According to the outline, Saudi Arabia will sign an agreement with Egypt regarding the islands and at the same time send a letter to the United States as the sponsor detailing its commitments regarding freedom of navigation and security arrangements.
The Biden administration, for its part, will send a letter to Israel detailing Saudi commitments regarding freedom of navigation and providing US guarantees to oversee the issue.
Bennett hinted in his retirement speech: "In important news in areas that concern our future and our strength" (Photo: Flash 90, -)
Ganz and the defense establishment believe that the outline preserves Israel's security interests in the Red Sea and support the move, a senior Israeli official said.
A senior Israeli official said that in parallel with the agreement on the islands, the Saudis are expected to announce that they will allow Israeli airlines' planes to pit in Saudi airspace on their way east, especially to India and China.
Another issue still under discussion is an Israeli request to allow direct charter flights from Israel to Saudi Arabia for Israeli Muslim pilgrims interested in visiting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
What they say
A senior Israeli official said that the outline had not yet been finalized and the wording of the agreement and letters of guarantee were still ongoing, but the parties were very close to the agreement.
An Israeli official added that "the trick is how to get to a situation where Saudi Arabia signs an agreement with Israel without signing an agreement with Israel."
He clarified that "there is no substantive debate on the content and the main issue now is how to find a way that will allow everyone to feel comfortable politically internally."
Bennett said earlier today, in his retirement speech, that "soon there will be more important news in areas related to our future and our power."
A spokesman for the White House National Security Council told Walla!
"For many years the United States has played an important role in strengthening security and stability in the Red Sea. We will not go into further detail in the article."
The Saudi and Egyptian embassies in Washington did not respond.
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