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Trump announced the agreement by the civilian-backed government of Sudan moments after he formally moved to end the nation’s designation of a state sponsor of terrorism, which was one of Khartoum’s main goals.
United States President Donald Trump announces a peace agreement between Sudan and Israel in the Oval Office on October 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. Image: AFP
WASHINGTON – Sudan agreed on Friday to be the last Arab nation to recognize Israel, President Donald Trump announced in a new diplomatic coup for him days before the US elections.
The UAE and Bahrain signed an agreement at the White House last month to normalize relations with Israel, but Sudan is arguably more important as an Arab nation that has been at war with Israel.
Trump announced the agreement by the civilian-backed government of Sudan moments after he formally moved to end the nation’s designation of a state sponsor of terrorism, which was one of Khartoum’s main goals.
The journalists were escorted to the Oval Office where Trump was speaking by phone with Sudan’s leadership and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally of the Republican president.
“We are expanding your circle of peace so rapidly with your leadership,” Netanyahu was heard saying.
Trump said: “Many, many more are coming.”
A Trump adviser, Judd Deere, said Sudan and Israel “have agreed to normalize relations.”
As part of the deal to get off the terror blacklist, the White House said Sudan’s transitional government had deposited $ 335 million to compensate survivors and family members of the attacks on the United States that took place when former dictator Omar al-Bashir welcomed Al-Qaeda.
“Today represents a momentous step forward in the bilateral relationship between the United States and Sudan and marks a fundamental turning point for Sudan,” said a White House statement.
The agreement with Sudan allows “a new future of collaboration and support for its historic and ongoing democratic transition,” he said.
Sudan’s Civil Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok thanked Trump on Twitter without mentioning Israel’s recognition, a step he had previously said he was not authorized to take.
Thank you president @realdonaldtrump for signing the executive order today to remove Sudan from #SSTL.
We work closely with the Administration and the US Congress to complete the SSTL phase-out process in a timely manner.
We work for international relations that best serve our people.Abdalla Hamdok (@SudanPMHamdok) October 23, 2020
“We are working closely with the US administration and Congress to complete the SSTL phase-out process in a timely manner,” Hamdok said, referring to the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
In Khartoum, a government source said Trump, Hamdok, Netanyahu and Sudan’s top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan participated in the call.
HISTORICAL STEP
Trump had announced his plan to remove Sudan from the list on Monday via Twitter. But in the days before it formally took the move, Israel sent a delegation to Khartoum to discuss normalization.
Trump, who is trailing in polls ahead of the Nov. 3 vote, has used his influence over Sudan to push for recognition of Israel.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed hope Wednesday that Sudan would “quickly” recognize the Jewish state, one of the main causes of Trump’s evangelical Christian base.
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates had long enjoyed quiet relations with Israel, but a move by Sudan is especially significant in light of the nation’s history.
Sudan played a small role in the Arab-Israeli wars and, after Israel’s decisive victory in 1967, Khartoum was where the Arab League issued its famous “three no’s”: no peace, no recognition, and no negotiations with Israel.
Sudan has been trying for years to remove the designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, severely hampering investment as few foreign companies want to risk the wrath of US prosecutions.
With Trump’s formal measure, Congress has 45 days in which it can pass a resolution to oppose the delisting.
Congress is not expected to block delisting, but it must also pass legislation to grant Sudan immunity from new claims.
Until then, the $ 335 million will be held in an escrow account.
The money includes compensation to the survivors and relatives of those killed in the twin al-Qaeda attacks on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.
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