The "The Times of Israel" online news site described the agreement to normalize relations between Israel and Sudan - which was announced last Friday - as a "historic breakthrough", but considered the path to ratifying a formal peace treaty and establishing full diplomatic relations between the two countries. It may be complicated and lengthy.
In a
report to its correspondent for diplomatic affairs,
Raphael Ahren, the website pointed out that the UAE and Israel did not sign a peace treaty, establish diplomatic relations and full normalization until 33 days after US President Donald Trump issued a joint statement announcing that the UAE agreed to establish relations with Israel.
It also took Bahrain exactly the same time to move from just a "vague" peace declaration to signing a "joint statement on establishing peaceful and friendly diplomatic relations."
Soon, the two countries (the UAE and Bahrain) proceeded to authorize their agreement with Israel, according to the website's report.
Different situation
However, the agreement with Khartoum is a "very different case," as "The Times of Israel" said.
Unlike the two monarchies in the Emirates and Bahrain, the Republic of Sudan - where hostility to Israel is still widespread - is undergoing a "fragile" transition period from a dictatorial regime to a democratic system, which makes establishing full relations with Israel a "formidable" challenge, according to the author of the report .
The Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Omar Qamar al-Din stressed that any peace agreement with Israel must first be approved by the Legislative Council, which has not yet been formed.
In this regard, he said that the normalization agreement with Israel will be decided upon after the completion of the construction of the constitutional institutions through the formation of the Legislative Council.
Subject to the approval of the Legislative Council
The website commented on the Sudanese minister's statement, saying that it is not clear when the military and civilian components of the Khartoum transitional government will agree to convene the Legislative Council.
He went on to say that even if normalization with Israel was subjected to officially accepted voting procedures in the coming weeks, it is in any case uncertain that Sudanese officials would endorse its results as easily as the decision to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in both the UAE and Bahrain.
The Israeli electronic newspaper pointed out that the "broad" bloc opposing peace with Israel has pledged to oppose the agreement.
It quoted a statement issued by the National Consensus Forces Alliance, saying that "our people will abide by its historical positions, and will work through a broad front to resist normalization and support the Palestinian people in order to obtain all their legitimate rights."
The Times of Israel: The joint Israeli-Sudanese statement suggests that normalization between the two sides will be different (French)
Joint Statement Signals
The newspaper touched on the joint statement issued last Friday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok.
She stated that the statement included some indications that the normalization process between Khartoum and Tel Aviv appeared to be different from the UAE and Bahrain agreements.
It quoted a paragraph about that joint statement, in which it stated that the leaders agreed to normalize relations between Sudan and Israel, and to end the state of hostility between their countries.
They also agreed to initiate economic, commercial and economic relations, with a primary focus on agriculture.
They also pledged that the delegations would meet in the coming weeks "to negotiate cooperation agreements in these areas, as well as in the fields of agricultural technology, aviation, immigration issues and other areas for the benefit of both peoples."
What is not said more than what has been said
The leaders resolved to "work together to build a better future and advance the cause of peace in the region. This step will improve regional security and unlock new opportunities for the people of Sudan, Israel, the Middle East and Africa."
"The Times of Israel" believes that what the statement did not say was more than it disclosed;
The statement did not specify that what was agreed upon was a "complete normalization of relations or the establishment of diplomatic relations."
He also did not mention - according to the newspaper - the exchange of embassies in both countries.
She went on to say that the joint statement also did not address the "Abraham Agreements" between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, which were concluded with US mediation at a ceremony at the White House in Washington last month.
Just a political advertisement
The website considered that the statement issued Friday is just a "political declaration" about future intentions, similar to the joint statements issued on August 13 by Trump, Netanyahu and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, and the "peace declaration" concluded on September 15. With Bahrain.
He stressed that the statement "is not a treaty, and it has no legal status."
Last Saturday, Netanyahu announced that an Israeli delegation would visit Khartoum in the coming days to complete what was agreed upon between the two countries.
The site stated - in its report - that the exact nature of the bilateral relations, the place and time of signing a peace treaty and the opening of embassies between Israel and Sudan will be decided upon in the upcoming talks.
And he went on to say that the result of the US presidential elections, and the current political situation in Sudan;
They will play a role in relation to the developments in the ongoing process.
The website concluded by saying that it will probably take more than 33 days under the existing conditions, before Friday's announcement culminates in a "sincere" peace agreement between Israel and Sudan.