"Island Battle" Between The Egyptian Government And The People: What Happens Next?

     
By Okechukwu Okugo

Heartmenders Magazine USA welcome the bold ruling of an Egyptian court to quash the handover of the two Red Sea Islands to Saudi Arabia.

This singular act is of utmost importance because it shows Egypt is advancing, as the different arms of government seem to function independently. Unlike in some African states, where the courts are the puppets of sitting governments.

Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi handed the islands of Tiran and Sanafir in April, 2016, to the Saudis, when King Salman visited Cairo.

According to AFP reports, the minister of legal and parliamentarian affairs, Magdy al-Agaty said the government would appeal the 21st June court ruling.

We also welcome the bold and civilized step taken by the Egyptian lawyer, Khaled Ali, to take the case to court. This is how disagreements should be settled rather than resorting to violence.

Saudi Arabia, a staunch supporter of Sisi's government have doled out billions of dollars in aid and investments to Egypt, since he assumed control of the government. Prompting critics of the government accusing Sisi of trading the islands in return of the monetary favor and investments.

The proposed handover also caused a large-scale uproar and outcry by the Egyptian people.

One of the hallmarks of advanced societies, is abiding by court rulings and respecting their jurisprudence.


Map showing the location of the two islands, Tiran and Sanafir, of the Red Sea.
Photo credit: www.globalresearch.ca

To show how important Egyptians view the islands, AFP reported:

"Tiran and Sanafir lie at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba and many Egyptians view them both with patriotic fondness and as a strategic asset. The Islands - captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and returned to Egypt under the 1979 Camp David Accords - can be used to control access to the Israeli port of Eliat."

The world is watching as this incident unfolds.

(Opening image: Egyptian president al-Sisi, greeting the Saudi King on his departure from Cairo, after the announcement of the handover of the islands to Saudi Arabia during his visit. Image credit: www.haaretz.com)