Sudan follows United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and normalizes relations with Israel

KHARTOUM / JERUSALEM – After relentless American efforts and tempting U.S. offers to Sudan, an agreement was reached between Sudan and Israel to normalize relations, similar to earlier agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. After much speculation, the leaders of the U.S., Israel, and Sudan announced in a joint statement on Friday that Khartoum and Tel Aviv had reached an agreement to normalize relations between them. The joint statement provides for the establishment of diplomatic and trade relations between Israel and Sudan, with an initial focus on agriculture. The statement also stated that the U.S. will take steps to restore Sudan’s sovereign immunity and to encourage international partners to reduce Sudan’s debt burden.

On the day after the signing of the agreement, US President Donald Trump said that five other Arab countries want to sign a peace agreement with Israel, most likely among them is Saudi Arabia. He also said that he would like to help Iran and return it to its correct course and he expected Iran to join the agreement although this will take more time and only on the condition that it will give up the development of nuclear weapons.

After Trump’s statements, Israeli politicians said they expected Qatar to be the next country to join the normalization agreement with Israel. They based their assumption on the Qatar making a deal with the U.S. to acquire the F35 aircraft to Qatar after Israel officially withdrew its opposition to the sale.

In Sudan and Palestine several parties expressed their disappointment and opposition to the normalization agreement, among them the National Consensus Forces Alliance in Sudan, the Sudanese Ummah Party, and the Palestine Liberation Organization. They consider the agreement a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and linked removing Sudan from the international terror list a political blackmail to normalize relations with Israel.

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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 23, 2020