Saudi Arabia: Egypt parliament clears island deal but courts again block it

The Egyptian parliament on 14 June approved the contentious transfer of two Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia, provoking a wave of protests in Cairo, Alexandria and elsewhere. The move came despite a Supreme Administrative Court ruling in January to block the transfer. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi was expected to ratify the agreement as quickly as possible, as official sources sought to reassure public opinion it would not contravene further court rulings on 20-21 June that have put the deal on ice again.