Sudan and Israel agree to normalize ties, the third such accord since August

Trump announced the agreement in Washington, inviting reporters into the Oval Office during a telephone conference he held with Israeli and Sudanese leaders and praised what he called a peace agreement. The deal does not immediately entail full diplomatic relations, for instance with an exchange of embassies, but it is an agreement to start discussions over normalization with an initial focus on economic and related matters.

Sudan becomes the third Arab country in recent weeks to establish ties with Israel, as the Trump administration presses majority-Muslim states to make a separate peace with Israel that does not depend on resolving the conflict with the Palestinians.

“Mr. President, one thing I can tell you is, we appreciate the help for peace from anyone in America,” Netanyahu offered after a pause.

Trump said “at least five” more countries are in line to normalize relations with Israel under U.S. auspices and boasted that the arrangements cost the United States nothing.

In Sudan’s case, the announcement was linked to its removal from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism and Sudan’s agreement to pay millions of dollars in restitution to American victims of terrorism. On Monday, Trump tweeted that he intended to remove Sudan from the list as soon as it deposited $335 million into an account for American victims of terrorism. On Friday, the White House formally notified Congress that Sudan had deposited the money.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Sudan’s civilian-led government had earned removal from the list and that it is in U.S. interests to help the relatively new government to succeed.

A temporary civilian-military government took power in Sudan after the popular uprising that ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir last year.

Netanyahu said the two countries would soon negotiate agreements in agriculture, trade and aviation, as Israel has begun to do with the UAE and Bahrain. “The skies of Sudan are open to Israel today. This allows for direct and shorter flights between Israel and Africa and South America,” he said.

The White House said the two countries also would seek to negotiate agreements on other economic issues, migration and “areas of mutual benefit.”

Trump says Sudan is no longer a state sponsor of terror

The deal, which comes less than two weeks before the U.S. election, has been carefully coordinated between the three countries in recent days. They sought to balance the White House desire to notch another diplomatic victory in the run-up to the vote and Sudan’s reported desire not to be seen as capitulating in exchange for favors from Washington.

The Associated Press reported Thursday, citing Sudanese officials, that a U.S.-Israeli delegation traveled to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to wrap up the normalization deal in a meeting with Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, the military head of Sudan’s transitional government.

Trump sealed the agreement in the Friday phone call with Netanyahu, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Burhan.

The statement issued Friday afternoon praised Sudan’s transitional government and did not mention the issue of the terrorism list, apparently in deference to the wishes of Sudan’s leaders to soften the public appearance of a quid pro quo.

Sudan, long seen as implacably hostile to Israel, could realize economic advantages from the twin developments of an accord with regional economic powerhouse Israel and the shedding of its pariah status as a state sponsor of terror.

“After decades of living under a brutal dictatorship, the people of Sudan are finally taking charge,” said a statement issued by the three countries. “The Sudanese transitional government has demonstrated its courage and commitment to combating terrorism, building its democratic institutions, and improving its relations with its neighbors.”

The statement said the leaders have agreed to “end the state of belligerence” between Sudan and Israel, although they have never fought a war.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has fiercely opposes the spreading rapprochement between its regional allies and Israel, reacted to the Sudan development with equal displeasure.

“The Palestinian presidency affirms its condemnation and rejection of normalized relations with the Israeli occupation state that usurps the land of Palestine,” his office said, according to the official Palestinian news service. “This contradicts the decisions of the Arab summits, as well as the Arab peace initiatives approved by the Arab and Islamic summits and the UN Security Council.”

Netanyahu and other Israeli officials highlighted the symbolic reversal of what is known as the “Three Nos” issued by Arab governments meeting in Khartoum in 1967: No to peace with Israel; no to recognition of Israel; no to negotiations with Israel.

“Whereas today, Khartoum says yes to peace with Israel, yes to recognition of Israel and to normalization with Israel,” Netanyahu said.

Sudan’s sovereign council announced the country’s removal from the terrorism list on social media Friday afternoon in Khartoum. Hamdok, Sudan’s top civilian official, tweeted his thanks to Trump and added, “We’re working closely with the U.S. Administration & Congress to conclude the SSTL removal process in a timely manner.”

In a statement, the White House said, “We commend the transitional government of Sudan for its work to chart a new course and stand ready to support the people of Sudan as they work to build a better future for themselves and future generations.”

U.S. has moved gradually to lift sanctions on Sudan

With the Sudanese public largely opposed to normalization of ties with Israel, the country’s unelected transitional government sought to have Trump sign the terrorism delisting as a first step. The sanctions that accompanied the listing had sharply restricted Sudan’s ability to make dollar transactions and receive aid and investment.

Hamdok has said that any change in his country’s diplomatic status with Israel will have to go before a legislative body that does not yet exist.

The rapprochement with Israel represents a major reversal from the Bashir era. For decades, Sudan was one of Israel’s staunchest opponents, and Bashir offered funding and arms to the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hamas and Hezbollah — part of the United States’ reasoning for designating Sudan a state sponsor of terrorism.

Sudan also harbored Osama bin Laden until 1996, though it denies any role in the 9/11 attacks.

Hendrix reported from Jerusalem. Max Bearak in Nairobi contributed to this report.