US behind-the-scenes campaign with Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt

American sources and Israel reveal to the page Axios that the move is related to the transfer of sovereignty over two strategic islands (Tiran and Sanafir) in the Red Sea from Egypt to Saudi Arabia. If consensus is reached, it would be a major foreign policy achievement for the Biden administration in the Middle East.

According to US and Israeli sources, the agreement is not complete and “sensitive” negotiations are ongoing. Brett McGurk, the US National Security Council’s Middle East coordinator, is a key figure in the Biden administration in current reconciliation efforts.

The sources added that the White House wants to reach an agreement before President Biden’s trip to the Middle East at the end of June. During the trip, Biden will probably stop in Saudi Arabia.

Several Arab sources confirmed the trip will also include a summit with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

Location of 2 islands Tiran and Sanafir. Photo: ITN

Tiran Island. Photo: Hady Messady

Although Tiran and Sanafir islands are uninhabited, they are located at the gateway to the Gulf of Aqaba. This is a strategic location because it is possible to control the shipping route leading to the Israeli port of Eilat thanks to the Strait of Tiran.

Saudi and Egyptian officials say that Saudi Arabia gave Egypt control of the islands in 1950. They were later demilitarized under the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979. However, there are still some unresolved issues.

According to sources, the Biden administration believes that closing the deal can build trust between the parties, creating an opening for the warm relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia – two countries that have no relation to each other. official diplomatic system.

It would be the most significant US foreign policy achievement in the Middle East since the Abrahamic Accords, brokered by the administration of former US President Donald Trump and resulting in normalization agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.

At the time, Saudi Arabia supported the Abrahamic Agreement but made it clear it would not normalize relations with Israel unless there was progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Successful negotiations are believed to also ease tensions between the Biden administration and Saudi Arabia.

The White House and the Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on information related to the two islands of Tiran and Sanafir in the Red Sea. The Saudi and Egyptian embassies did not respond to requests for comment.