Egyptian court ruled to reject plan transfering Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2017/01/islands-contention-tiran-sanafir-170117190000729.html 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/court-rejects-red-sea-islands-transfer-saudi-arabia-170116093431768.html

The first link is a helpful interactive map showing the history of the Tiran Strait Islands and their history and significance to the Arab Israeli Conflict. The second link is the actual article. In the 1950’s, Saudi Arabia apparently transferred the islands over to Egypt because they suspected Israel would try to seize them. The location of the strait is important, as they could restrict shipping of the Red Sea port cities of Eilat and Aqaba in Israel and Jordan. Recently, Saudi and Egyptian government officials were planning to transfer the islands back to Saudi Arabia, but this has been rejected by an Egyptian court. Last April, Egyptian protesters also demonstrated to reject the Saudi deal.