Israel and Sudan finalize text of peace agreement, says Israeli foreign minister

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Israel and Sudan have finalized the text of a peace deal to be signed “later this year,” Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced Thursday.

Speaking on his return to Tel Aviv from a visit to the Sudanese capital Khartoum, Cohen said the visit was made with the consent of the United States, and that a signing ceremony in Washington is expected to follow the transition of power in Sudan. A civilian government that will be established as part of the ongoing transition process in the country.

Cohen, while announcing the development, emphasized the significance of the peace agreement between Israel and Khartoum.

“Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, is remembered in Israel as the city where Arab countries made the historic ‘three-point’ decision: no peace with Israel, no negotiations with Israel, and no recognition of Israel.” We are building a new reality with the Sudanese, in which ‘three numbers’ will become ‘three yeses’: yes to negotiations between Israel and Sudan, yes to recognition of Israel and yes to states and peoples. For peace between,” he said.

Sudan was part of the original agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco to normalize the Abraham Accords brokered by the administration of former US President Donald Trump. But after a military coup in Sudan in October 2021, the final stages of the process stalled with Khartoum.

During the visit, Cohen met with the head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, Gen. Abdul Fattah al-Barhan, and senior officials, and discussed with them steps toward the signing of a peace agreement between Israel and Sudan in the near future. Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

He said at a press conference on Thursday that the visit to Sudan laid the foundation for a historic peace agreement with a strategic Arab and Muslim country. A peace agreement between Israel and Sudan will promote regional stability and contribute to the national security of the State of Israel.

He added that the signing “will serve as an opportunity to build relationships with other African countries as well as strengthen existing relationships with African countries. There are common interests for the countries of the continent.