US push for Arab-Israel ties divides Sudanese leaders

Sudan's fragile interim government is sharply divided over rmalising relations with Israel, as it finds itself under intense pressure from Trump administration to become third Arab country to do so in short order — after United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Washington's push for Sudan-Israel ties is part of a campaign to score foreign policy achievements ahead of US presidential election in vember.

Sudan seemed like a natural target for pressure campaign because of US lever — Khartoum's desperate efforts to be removed from a US list of states sponsoring terrorism.

Sudan can only get international loans and aid that are essential for reviving its battered ecomy once that stain is removed.

While Sudan's transitional government has been negotiating terms of removing country from list for more than a year, US officials introduced link to rmalization with Israel more recently.

Top Sudanese military leaders, who govern jointly with civilian techcrats in a Sovereign Council, have become increasingly vocal in ir support for rmalization with Israel as part of a quick deal with Washington ahead of US election.

“w, wher we like it or t, removal (of Sudan from terror list) is tied to (rmalization) with Israel,” deputy head of council, Gen. Mohammed Dagalo, told a local television station on Friday.

“We need Israel ... Israel is a developed country and whole world is working with it,” he said.

“We will have benefits from such relations ... We hope all look at Sudan's interests.” Such comments would have been unthinkable until recently in a country where public hostility toward Israel remains strong.

top civilian official in coalition, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, has argued that transitional government does t have mandate to decide on foreign policy issues of this magnitude.

When US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Sudan last month, Hamdok urged him to move forward with removing Sudan from list of state sponsors of terrorism and t link it to recognizing Israel.

“It needs a deep discussion within our society,” Hamdok told reporters earlier this week.

Several Sudanese officials, who spoke on condition of anymity because y were t authorized to brief media, said civilian leaders prefer to wait with any deal until after US election.

officials said military leaders seek a quick US-Sudan deal, including rmalization with Israel, in exchange for an aid pack.

officials said military fears incentives being offered w could be withdrawn after US election.

One sticking point is size of future aid to Sudan.

A meeting in Abu Dhabi last month — attended by Sudanese, US and Emirati officials — ended without agreement.

Less than USD 1 billion in cash was being offered, mostly to be paid by Emirates, said a Sudanese official who took part in meetings.

Sudanese team, had asked for USD 3 billion to help rescue Sudan's ecomy.

Dagalo, military official, tweeted Friday, after meeting with US envoy to Sudan, Donald Booth, in South Sudan that he received a promise to remove Sudan from terror list “as soon as possible.” An Israeli official said talks on rmalization remain purely between US and Sudan.

“We're still t re,” said official, who spoke on condition of anymity because he was discussing a confidential diplomatic matter. He said Israeli government hopes a deal can be wrapped up before US election on vember 3.

For Israel, a cordial relationship with Sudan would be a symbolic victory.

Sudan, a Muslim-majority African country, has long said it supports Palestinian people in ir calls for an independent state.

Khartoum hosted historic Arab League summit after 1967 Mideast War in which Israel captured West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem — lands Palestinians seek for that state.

conference approved a resolution that became kwn as “three 's" — peace with Israel, recognition of Israel and negotiations.

designation of Sudan as a “state sponsor of terrorism” dates to 1990s, when nation briefly hosted Osama bin Laden and or wanted militants.

Sudan was also believed to have served as a pipeline for Iran to supply weapons to Palestinian militants in Gaza Strip.

Osman Mirghani, a Sudanese analyst and editor of daily newspaper al-Tayar, said Sudanese leaders don't have unlimited time to decide.

“ US offer of incentives .. will t last too long. It is related to US presidential election on one side, and number of Arab states that rmalize,” he said.

(This story has t been edited by www.republicworld.com and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)