Current leader Sissi still uses conflict in effort to rally Egyptians, though figures show 85% of population was not alive at the time

McGurk, Hochstein make covert trip in effort to finalize transfer of Red Sea islands from Egypt to Saudi Arabia; Israel hopes Riyadh will take steps toward normalization in tandem

Israel's approval needed since Egypt agreed in 1979 peace treaty to demilitarize Tiran and Sanafir; Jerusalem asking Riyadh to take steps toward normalization in exchange