Sudan agreed to the normalization deal with Israel in October, but said it would only come into force after it was approved by a parliament that has not yet been formed. But Congress is stuck on legal peace legislation, which would essentially prevent victims of past terrorist attacks from demanding new compensation from Sudan. If a compromise can be reached quickly, it could be included in a major military spending bill that Congress is expected to approve in the next two weeks, according to a Senate official working to break the deadlock. Israel has maintained full diplomatic relations with two of its Arab neighbors, Egypt and Jordan, after signing peace treaties in 1979 and 1994, respectively. The Sudanese government stressed that the agreement requires the approval of an elected parliament to enter into force and that it is only a provisional agreement. [26] Former Sudanese Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi also criticized the announcement, adding that he had withdrawn from a government-organized conference to protest at the time. Pompeo spoke Monday with Sudan`s de facto leader, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who made it clear that the East African country would not advance warming relations with Israel until Congress passes the so-called Legal Peace Law. Relations with the United States showed new signs of thawing in August when Pompeo visited Sudan.
Khartoum also appointed its first ambassador to Washington in nearly a quarter of a century in September. Relations with Israel remain a sensitive issue in Sudan. Although many will be relieved of the possible impeachment of the United States. Sanctions and the promise of a revived economy, Sudanese who support the Palestinians, could see the deal as a betrayal. Last year, the Trump administration forged diplomatic pacts between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain — the first since Jordan recognized Israel in the 1990s and Egypt in the 1970s. Morocco has also established diplomatic relations with Israel. The agreements are all with countries that are geographically distant from Israel and that have played a subordinate role, if any, in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Since the fall of al-Bashir, Sudan has been ruled by a joint military and civilian government that seeks to improve its relations with the West. It is struggling with a huge budget deficit and widespread shortages of essential goods, including fuel, bread and medicine.
Sudan and the United States have signed an agreement that paves the way for the normalization of relations with Israel, making it the third Arab country to sign the “Abraham Agreement.” “The Sudanese government has demonstrated its courage and commitment to fight terrorism, build its democratic institutions and improve its relations with its neighbors,” the statement said, adding that the agreement “will strengthen regional security.” East African Sudan on Friday became the third Predominantly Muslim country to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel as part of a deal brokered by President Donald Trump less than two weeks before the election. In announcing normalization, Trump said “at least five other” Arab states wanted a peace deal with Israel. Mnuchin also signed a memorandum of understanding to provide Sudan with a previously announced bridge loan to help Sudan settle its arrears with the World Bank and have access to $1 billion in annual funds, Sudan`s finance ministry said. “As Minister Mnuchin works with the leaders in Khartoum, it is crucial that he engages with strong support for international anti-money laundering standards and tax transparency, which are essential for Sudan to combat the looting of its economy,” he said. “This is obviously going to make a big breakthrough between Israel and Sudan,” Kushner told Reuters. “Reaching peace agreements is not as easy as we make it seem. They are very difficult to do. Meanwhile, Israel said it would not oppose the U.S. sale of high-quality military equipment to the UAE. The United States had agreed to allow the UAE to purchase F-35 fighter jets after normalizing relations with Israel. Attorney General Nasredeen Abdulbari signed the agreement with the visit of U.S.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, according to the Prime Minister`s Office. In August 2020, the US Secretary of State toured several Arab League countries, including Sudan. [13] On September 15, 2020, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed the Abraham Agreement with Israel, becoming the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel since Jordan in 1994. Mauritania recognized Israel in 1999, but severed relations 10 years later. [14] It has been reported that Sudan and Oman are also expected to sign the agreements after the US elections. [15] [16] A statement from the Sudanese Prime Minister`s Office said Wednesday that Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari signed the agreement with the visit of U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. While Sudan and Israel announced in October that they would normalize relations, the khartoum government said a final decision would rest with a transitional parliament that has not yet been formed. As part of the agreement to be removed from the State Department`s terrorist list, Sudan agreed to pay $335 million to settle legal claims from victims of the 1998 bombings of the U.S.
embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The two explosions, perpetrated by Sudanese-backed al-Qaeda fighters, killed 224 people, including 12 U.S. citizens; Thousands more were injured. “This is a very, very important agreement. It would have a huge impact on the Israeli people and the Sudanese people if they continued to work together on cultural and economic opportunities and trade,” Mnuchin said. Sudanese Justice Minister Nasr Abdelbari called the agreement an “important step” at the signing ceremony. Sudan is one of the Arab countries that have waged wars with Israel, and its capital, Khartoum, has seen the adoption of an Arab League resolution known as the Three No`s Resolution; No peace, no recognition, no negotiations. [5] Sudan had deployed troops to fight Israeli forces in all major Arab-Israeli wars and considers Israel an enemy state, and it has also been claimed that the Israeli Air Force attacked Sudanese forces and terrorists covering up in Sudan in 2009 and 2012. [6] Until last month, only two Arab countries – Egypt and Jordan – had officially recognized Israel. The two countries bordering Israel signed peace agreements in 1979 and 1994 respectively after mediation by the United States. That this could jeopardize the rapprochement with Israel is the byproduct of what Ilan Goldenberg, the director of the Middle East security program at the Center for a New American Security, described as a rushed effort by the Trump administration to secure a foreign policy victory ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Lawmakers are also divided over protecting Sudan from future court rulings that could force Khartoum to compensate the families of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. These families are working with New York-area lawmakers, including Senator Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democrats, to uphold their claims of partial responsibility for Sudan during the five years he hosted Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the al-Qaeda attacks, between 1991 and 1996. The political dynamic changed with the overthrow of long-time Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir last year and his replacement by a civilian-military transitional council. The deal was brokered on the U.S. side by Trump`s senior adviser Jared Kushner, Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz, national security adviser Robert O`Brien, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security chief Miguel Correa. “The declaration establishes the need to consolidate the meanings of tolerance, dialogue and coexistence among the different peoples and religions of the Middle East region and the world in a way that serves to promote a culture of peace,” the Sudanese cabinet said. Sudan on Wednesday quietly signed the Abraham Accords, agreements brokered by the United States that have initiated a public rapprochement between Israel and several Arab states. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the deal was a “spectacular breakthrough for peace” and the beginning of a “new era.” .