Israel: Saudi agreed to free passage in Tiran straits

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said Saudi Arabia has given Israel written assurances that it will adhere to the Camp David Accords, following Egypt’s move to concede two islands to its Arab neighbor, Israeli media reported.

According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronot, Ya’alon said Tuesday that Saudi Arabia has guaranteed Israel’s freedom of passage following the handover.

“[There has been] an agreement between Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and the United States to transfer the responsibility of the islands,” Ya’alon said. “Israel has also agreed to the construction of a bridge as part of Saudi Arabia’s development plans on the two islands.”

According to a maritime border agreement inked last week between Cairo and Riyadh, the Red Sea islands of Sanafir and Tiran – which for decades had been Egyptian possessions – were put within Saudi territorial waters.

The agreement has caused outrage among much of the Egyptian public and the country’s embattled political opposition.