国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Egypt pacifies dispute as Sisi ratifies islands handover deal_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Egypt pacifies dispute as Sisi ratifies islands handover deal

Once the maritime demarcation was enforced, Egypt would legally use the economic water for oil and gas exploration without any disputes or problems with the oil-rich Gulf country, the expert highlighted.

Tiran and Sanafir islands lie about 4 km apart in the Red Sea. Tiran sits at the mouth of Gulf of Aqaba, on a strategic stretch of water called the Straits of Tiran, used by Israel to access the Red Sea.

Egyptian troops have been stationed on the islands since 1950 at the request of Saudi Arabia. Israel occupied the two islands in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war but returned them to Egypt under the two countries' 1979 peace treaty.

Now, only Egyptians military personnel and multinational peacekeepers inhabit the islands.

Opponents of the agreement insist that Tiran and Sanafir have long been Egyptian and criticize the Egyptian government for "selling" Egyptian territories in exchange for billions of dollars of Saudi aid.

"This matter has been closed (after parliamentary approval) and I am only bringing it up again because we have nothing to hide," President al-Sisi said in a speech to the nation on Thursday.

In another speech this month, the president said: "the rights must be given to its rightful owners."

"Nations aren't sold or bought with any price, no matter how high the price will be," the president added, "You have entrusted me with this nation and for this I will be held accountable not just before you but also before God."