Tuesday 24 May 2022 04:28 AM Biden 'negotiating transfer of islands from Egypt to S. Arabia' to normalize ... trends now
Joe Biden's representatives are holding secret talks with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel aimed at normalizing relations between Saudi and Israel, according to a report.
The establishment of diplomatic relations would be a major coup for the White House, and talks are currently focused on confirming ownership of two contested uninhabited islands in the Red Sea - a major stumbling block for any normalization.
Saudi Arabia has never formally accepted Israel, despite both countries edging closer throughout the decades.
The agreement would be the most significant in the Middle East since 2020, when Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates all normalized ties with Israel - agreements that came to be known as the Abraham Accords.
Egypt was in 1979 the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, but for years downplayed their ties, and the most substantial interactions were largely between the two countries' militaries.
Biden is hoping to get an agreement in place before his trip to the Middle East at the end of June, Axios reported on Monday.
Tiran island is seen in the foreground, with its mountains inland, and Sanafir behind. The Egyptian resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh is on the mainland
Joe Biden is seen on Tuesday in Tokyo, addressing a summit of the Quad, with the leaders of Japan, Australia and India
