Israeli officials to travel to Sudan after states agree to normalise ties

The agreement made the African nation the third Arab government to set aside hostilities with Israel in the last two months

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an Israeli delegation will visit Sudan in the coming days to finalise an accord to normalise relations. REUTERS

An Israeli delegation will travel to Sudan in coming days after the two countries agreed to take steps to normalise ties on Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

Brokered by the United States, the agreement made Sudan the third Arab government to set aside hostilities with Israel in the last two months.

Delegations from the two countries will negotiate co-operation agreements in agriculture technology, aviation, migration issues and other areas within "the coming weeks"

“An Israeli delegation will leave to Sudan in the coming days to complete the agreement,” Mr Netanyahu said at a news conference.

It was unclear, however, how long it will take for an accord to be completed. The military and civilian leaders of Sudan’s transitional government have been divided over how fast and how far to go in establishing ties with Israel.

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok wants approval from a yet-to-be formed parliament to proceed with a broader, formal normalisation, and that may not be a quick process given the sensitivities and civilian-military differences.

US President Donald Trump’s decision this week to remove Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism paved the way for the accord, marking a foreign policy achievement for the Republican president as he seeks re-election on November 3. Mr Trump is trailing in opinion polls behind Democratic rival Joe Biden.

Mr Trump sealed the Israel-Sudan agreement in a phone call with Mr Netanyahu and Mr Hamdok and Transitional Council Head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The Trump administration had lobbied Sudan for weeks to follow the United Arab Emirates’ lead in normalising relations with Israel.

On the call, he said: “Do you think ‘Sleepy Joe’ [Biden] could have made this deal?”

Mr Netanyahu, reliant on bipartisan support for Israel in Washington, dodged the question.

“Well, Mr. President, one thing I can tell you, is ... we appreciate the help for peace from anyone in America,” he said.

Asked at Saturday’s news conference whether he was embarrassed by Mr

Trump’s question, Mr Netanyahu said: “It is very difficult to embarrass me,” and stressed he was grateful to Mr Trump for his policy toward Israel.

“I hope this policy will continue. I don’t want to make any prophecies about the election results,” he added.

The European Union welcomed the announcement to normalise relations.

"This is a positive development that should contribute to the stabilisation and the prosperity of the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea regions," a spokesperson for the European Commission said on Saturday.

"In this context, the EU recalls its longstanding position that a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict requires a regional inclusive approach and engagement with both parties," they added.