The First Arab-Israeli War, lasting from November 1947 to March 1949, also known as the Israeli War of Independence or the Palestinian War, marked a period of turmoil and reshaping of the Middle East region.
This conflict not only affected the political landscape of the local nations but also profoundly influenced the evolution of global geopolitics.
In 1950, Saudi Arabia, in support of the Arab world against Israel, gifted the islands of Tiran and Sanafir in the Gulf of Aqaba to Egypt, intensifying tensions in the region.
The Gulf of Aqaba is located in the northeastern Red Sea, between the Sinai Peninsula and the Arabian Peninsula, and is part of the Great Rift Valley of East Africa.
This waterway is not only strategically important due to its geographical location but also due to its significant strategic value.
Currently, the coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba is divided among Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, with each country exercising certain control rights within its territorial waters.
The Gulf of Aqaba is renowned not only for its geographical location but also for three important cities: Taba in Egypt, Eilat in Israel, and Aqaba in Jordan, which serve as the only outlets and strategic points in the Red Sea region.
At the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba, the Strait of Tiran is a crucial strategic location.
The two small islands - Tiran and Sanafir - are situated within the Strait of Tiran and greatly influence navigation and control in this waterway.
Although small in size, Tiran and Sanafir Islands hold significant strategic value.
These uninhabited islands were long neglected since the Ottoman Empire era until 1882, when Egypt became a British protectorate, prompting Britain to focus on and control these two critical positions to strengthen its control over the Strait of Tiran.
In 1922, Egypt nominally gained independence but remained under British influence, with British troops stationed in Egypt, effectively keeping it in a semi-colonial state.
Upon Britain's withdrawal from global colonies, by handing over Tiran and Sanafir Islands to Saudi Arabia's eastern region, Egypt's influence in the Gulf of Aqaba region was weakened.
In 1932, Saudi Arabia officially declared independence, freeing itself from British protectorate status and beginning expansion in the southern Arabian Peninsula, particularly military actions towards Yemen.
This prompted British intervention in an attempt to prevent further Saudi expansion and maintain stability and balance in the Middle East region.
In 1956, Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal and blocked the Strait of Tiran, triggering a series of international tensions.
Egypt's actions not only led to the outbreak of the Second Arab-Israeli War but also further complicated the geopolitical landscape of the region.
The Second Arab-Israeli War demonstrated Egypt's military vulnerability. Despite heavy losses, it failed to prevent Israel's use of the Red Sea shipping routes.
The Six-Day War of 1967 marked another intense period of turmoil in the Middle East region.
Israel successfully occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River, Gaza Strip of Egypt, and the Sinai Peninsula, including Tiran and Sanafir Islands in the Gulf of Aqaba.
This war not only heightened tensions in the region but also had far-reaching implications for the stability of the entire Middle East.
In 1979, under U.S. mediation, Egypt and Israel signed the Camp David Accords, achieving peace and normalization of relations.
According to the agreement, Israel agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula, while Egypt agreed not to restrict Israeli navigation in the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba.
The 1982 Lebanon War once again highlighted the complexity and instability of the region.
While Israel achieved some victories in the war, it also paid a heavy price, particularly in terms of international public opinion and regional political influence.
In 2017, after years of diplomatic efforts and negotiations, Egypt finally relinquished sovereignty over Tiran and Sanafir Islands, returning them under Saudi control.
This decision not only reflected adjustments in regional political power but also had implications for the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
Amid current geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, there are suggestions to transfer Tiran and Sanafir Islands to Yemen's Houthi forces to enhance their role in regional strategic geopolitics.
Such proposals reflect the complex interplay of interests and influences in the region and underscore the longstanding geopolitical tensions and disputes in the Middle East.
Comments