There were also disputes over whether media should be permitted access to the chamber while the discussions were ongoing. When some committee members insisted a procedural vote first be taken on whether the committee should review the pact, Abdel-Al declared a "yes" majority barely seconds after he had asked members to vote by a show of hands. When his tactic was loudly decried by some members, he threatened to expel anyone who spoke out of turn. Critics say surrendering them amounts to treason and claim it was linked to financial Saudi aid, a charge denied by authorities. A state-owned daily, meanwhile, quoted a prominent geologist as saying the islands' rock formation matched that of the Saudi coast opposite them, suggesting they belonged to Saudi Arabia.

Source: ABC News June 11, 2017 13:34 UTC