Jerusalem formalizes South Sudan ties

Israel formally established relations with the new Republic of South Sudan.

The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem announced Thursday the institution of ambassadorial-level ties with Juba “on the basis of equality, mutual respect and non interference in the internal affairs of one another.”

The declaration followed swift declarations of mutual recognition by Israel and South Sudan after the latter officially ceded from the mostly Muslim Arab north on July 9.

An Israeli diplomatic delegation was in Juba, the South Sudan capital, on Thursday and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said talks already were under way on offering the new African republic humanitarian assistance.