Al-Quds Al-Arabi Stirs Up Israeli Occupation of Saudi Islands Issue

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Al-Quds al-Arabi pan-Arab newspaper stirred up an issue to which Gulf countires have set a blind eye for years.

Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries and the Western states have kept silent for decades regarding the occupation of two Saudi western islands by the "Israeli" regime. According to the source, "Israeli" forces occupied Saudi Arabia's Tiran and Sanafir Islands in 1967.

The article explains that the two islands are located at the southern end of the Gulf of Aqaba, leading to the Red Sea. Tiran Island, which has an area of about 80 square kilometers, is located at the inflow of the Straits of Tiran. Sanafir Island, with an area of 33 square kilometers, also lies to the east of Tiran.

The two islands were given to the former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser for logistics use in the Six Day War of 1967 against "Israeli" forces.

However, the islands have been occupied by Tel Aviv since Egypt's defeat.

The Straits of Tiran, which has remained under the control of Tel Aviv, has strategic significance since it serves as "Israel's" only direct access to the Red Sea.

Regional observers say while Saudi Arabia has maintained a total silence on its own "Israeli"-occupied islands, it vigorously pursues baseless claims by the United Arab Emirates against three tiny Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.

Also, the newspaper questions this Saudi silence on the matter. It reports the Gulf kingdom is either afraid of "Israel", or has become its ally within the framework of a US strategy in the region.

"Otherwise, there must be a secret agreement that has not come to light yet!" the paper concludes.


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