CNN
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Israel and Sudan have finalized the language of a peace deal to be signed “later this year,” Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Thursday.
Cohen, who returned to Tel Aviv from a visit to Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, said the visit had been made with the consent of the United States, stating that “a signing ceremony will take place in Washington after the transfer of power in Sudan to the United States. It is planned,” he said. A civilian government to be established as part of the country’s ongoing transition process. ”
In announcing the breakthrough, Cohen emphasized the symbolism of the peace deal between Israel and Khartoum.
“Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, is remembered in Israel as the city where the Arab nations made their historic ‘three no’ decisions. No peace with Israel, no negotiation with Israel, no recognition of Israel. We are building a new reality with the Sudanese. There, the “three nos” become the “three yeses”. For negotiations between Israel and Sudan, for recognition of Israel, for peace between nations and peoples. ” He said.
Sudan was part of the first Abrahamic Accords normalization deal between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, 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 with Khartoum stalled.
During his visit, Cohen met with senior officials with the leader of Sudan’s ruling Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to discuss steps towards signing a peace deal between Israel and Sudan in the near future. Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
He said at a news conference on Thursday that his visit to Sudan “had laid the foundation for a historic peace deal with the strategic Arab and Islamic country. A peace deal between Israel and Sudan will promote stability in the region.” and will contribute to Israeli national security.”
He said the signing “will serve as an opportunity to establish relations with other countries in Africa and to strengthen existing relations with African countries. It is of common interest to us.”