Sudanese prime minister Abdalla Hamdok (Photo by Ola A .Alsheikh/Wikimedia Commons under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license) The Sudanese cabinet voted on April 6 to nullify a 1958 law forbidding the country from forging relations with Israel.
The Jerusalem Post and Jewish News reported that in order for the move to be finalized, it needs to be approved by Sudan’s Sovereignty Council. The Sudanese cabinet, known as the Council of Ministers, also reiterated its support for a Palestinian state to be established as part of a two-state solution.
Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen hailed the move as “an important and necessary step toward signing a peace agreement between the countries. Cooperation between the countries will help Israel and Sudan and contribute to regional security and stability.”
Jewish groups praised the move. “This is a crucial step toward increased engagement between the two countries,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted.
🚨BREAKING: The Sudanese Cabinet has repealed a 1958 law that prevented diplomatic and business relations with Israel.
Pending approval from Sudan’s Sovereign Council, this is a crucial step toward increased engagement between the two countries. 🇮🇱🇸🇩https://t.co/cCFJCDQzN9
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) April 6, 2021
The Simon Wiesenthal Center similarly tweeted, “#BDS [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions] be damned. A historic step that will benefit Sudan and Israel, normalize ties between people and accelerate momentum from #AbrahamAccords.”
> #BDS be damned. A historic step that will benefit Sudan and Israel, normalize ties between people and accelerate momentum from #AbrahamAccords. https://t.co/XzD7iQosaN
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) April 6, 2021
International human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky also tweeted, “Amidst all the turmoil in the region, the #AbrahamAccords continue to be a shining beacon of hope for better future!”
Fantastic! Amidst all the turmoil in the region, the #AbrahamAccords continue to be a shining beacon of hope for better future! https://t.co/AsXUBFUgHu
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) April 6, 2021
In October 2020, Sudan became the fourth Arab nation to normalize relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords. The capital of Sudan, Khartoum, was where the Arab League developed the “Three Nos” against Israel in the aftermath of the 1967 Six Day War: “No peace, no recognition, and no negotiation.”
The other Arab nations that are party to the Abraham Accords are the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
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