Israel
Israel and Sudan to normalise relations
Deals with Saudi Arabia and Oman may also be on the cards
October 25, 2020 09:18
Deals with Saudi Arabia and Oman may also be on the cards
October 25, 2020 09:18Israel has agreed to work towards normalising relations with Sudan in a deal brokered by US President Donald Trump.
The agreement was made in a phone call on Friday between the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Sudanese counterpart, Abdalla Hamdok, and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s sovereign council.
A joint statement from the three countries said: “The leaders agreed to the normalisation of relations between Sudan and Israel and to end the state of belligerence between their nations.”
If implemented, the deal would make Sudan the third Arab country to set aside hostilities with Israel in the past two months, following deals with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
President Trump brought reporters into the Oval Office last Friday and announced: “The State of Israel and the Republic of Sudan have agreed to make peace.”
His senior aide Jared Kushner added later: “We’re very confident that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be resolved as well.”
"The State of Israel and the Republic of Sudan have agreed to make peace." pic.twitter.com/JjpjDQKbPT
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 23, 2020
But there are questions over whether Sudan’s transitional government has the authority to strike such a deal. The country remains without a parliament and elections are due in 2022.
Any deal with Israel has been a matter of vehement debate within Sudan’s transitional government, with its military wing, headed by Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan, in favour, but Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok opposed.
The deal with Sudan would include aid and investment from Israel, particularly in technology and agriculture, along with further debt relief.
It comes as Sudan and its transitional government face civil stife and economic chaos.
Thousands have protested in the country’s capital Khartoum and other regions in recent days over the dire economic conditions.
Reports in Israel have also suggested a normalisation deal with Saudi Arabia is on the cards.
Mossad director Yossi Cohen claimed: "They seem to be waiting for the US election, to give a 'gift' to the president-elect."
Oman is also said to be moving towards agreeing a deal with Israel.
The Board of Deputies said they "warmly welcome the normalisation ties between Israel and Sudan, which will hopefully add to a growing era of peace and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa."
President Marie van der Zyl said she hoped the development would "help foster peace with the Palestinians and greatly enhance the security for all in the region."
