Israeli research centre: Egyptian anger at Sisi may erupt at any point

There will be “serious” consequences on the Egyptian regime as a result of its decision to hand over the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia, an Israeli government-linked research centre warned yesterday.

In a paper the Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs, chaired by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Dore Gold, said: “There are manifestations of bitterness from [Egyptian President Abdel Fatah] Al-Sisi’s decision within the Egyptian army, which forms the spearhead of the regime.”

The centre said that Al-Sisi is trying “to ensure the loyalty of the army through granting the army more monopolies and expanding its powers which have a direct impact on the Egyptian economy.”

It pointed out that “anger gripped large sections of the Egyptian masses, which have been strongly supporting Al-Sisi,” following the “abandonment” of the islands.

“There is no proof that Al-Sisi’s procedures could absorb the Egyptian public’s reaction and there are fears that anger may prevail amongst all segments of the Egyptian people and explode at an unspecified time.”