Withdrawing Khartoum from the US list of states sponsoring terrorism

Washington announces Sudan and Israel agree to normalize relations

Trump during a phone call with officials in Israel and Sudan.

Reuters

The White House announced yesterday that Israel and Sudan have agreed, under the auspices of President Donald Trump, to normalize relations between them, after Trump announced, earlier yesterday, that Sudan would be withdrawn from the US list of states sponsoring terrorism.

The US President said, after declaring that the two countries had established "peace" between them, that five other Arab countries, at least, would like to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

In Khartoum, a joint statement was issued by Sudan, the United States and Israel, transmitted by Sudanese state television, and in which it stated, “The leaders (in the three countries) agreed to normalize relations between Sudan and Israel, and to end the state of hostility between them,” adding: “The leaders agreed to start economic and trade relations. ».

"The President (Trump) announced that Sudan and Israel agreed to normalize relations between them, in a new big step towards peace in the Middle East," White House spokesman Judd Derry announced on Twitter.

In the Oval Office, journalists attended a phone call between Donald Trump and officials in Israel and Sudan.

Yesterday, Khartoum confirmed the normalization of its relations with the State of Israel and "ending the state of hostility between them," according to what was stated in a tripartite statement issued by Sudan, the United States and Israel, which was reported by Sudanese official television, describing the agreement as "historic".

"The leaders (of the three countries) agreed to normalize relations between Sudan and Israel, and to end the state of hostility between them," the joint statement said.

He added, "The leaders agreed to start economic and trade relations."

They also agreed, according to the statement, that "delegations will meet in the coming weeks to negotiate cooperation agreements in these areas, as well as in the field of agricultural technology, aviation, immigration issues, and others."

The statement indicated "determination to work together, to build a better future, and to advance the cause of peace in the region."

And he considered that "this historic agreement is a testament to the bold approach and vision of the four leaders."

The statement said the United States would help Sudan "reduce its debt burden", including pushing forward discussions with its international partners "on debt forgiveness."

Earlier, a government source in Khartoum confirmed that a phone call took place between Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok, and Sudanese Transitional Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Netanyahu described the normalization of relations with Sudan as an "exceptional transformation."

In a statement written in Hebrew, and a copy of which was received by Agence France-Presse, he said: “What an exceptional transformation!

Today, Khartoum says yes to peace with Israel, yes to recognition of Israel, and yes to normalization with Israel. ”

The Sudanese government source stated that the phone call took place after Trump announced that Sudan would be withdrawn from the US list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

Shortly before the announcement of normalization, the White House announced that the US President would withdraw Sudan from the list of "states sponsoring terrorism."

The White House said that the US President “informed Congress of his intention to officially back down from identifying Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism,” describing the matter as a “very important moment” for Sudan and for relations between Khartoum and Washington.

The White House stated that the transitional authorities in Sudan paid an amount of $ 335 million, as part of an agreement to compensate Americans, victims of attacks that occurred during President Omar al-Bashir's 30-year rule.

Hamdok's office said, in a written statement, that the decision to remove Sudan from the US list of terrorism "opened the door wide for the return of Sudan that is due to the international community, the global financial and banking system, and regional and international investments."

Yesterday, Netanyahu announced that Israel would not object to the United States selling advanced American weapons to the UAE.

"Israel will not oppose the sale of these systems to the United Arab Emirates," he said in a statement, commenting on the visit of his government defense minister, Benny Gantz, to Washington this week to discuss the sale of such weapons to the UAE, including F-35s.

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