28 | NOVEMBER 5 • 2020
S
udan will become the
third Arab country in
the past two months to
normalize relations with Israel,
continuing the trend of Arab
states’
willingness to advance ties
even without a peace agreement
with the Palestinians.
President Donald Trump
announced the agreement on
Oct. 23. According to a joint
statement by Israel, Sudan and
the U.S., the two countries will
“end the state of belligerence
between their nations.
”
The statement also noted
that the countries will “begin
economic and trade relations,
with an initial focus on agricul-
ture.
” In the coming weeks, the
statement says, they will meet to
discuss “agriculture technology,
aviation, migration issues and
other areas.
”
“The Arab-Israeli conflict
is moving toward an end,
”
said Brian Hook, the top State
Department official who helped
broker the deal.
Sudan has been ruled by a
Sovereignty Council, led by
military leader Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan and prime minister
Abdalla Hamdok, since a mili-
tary coup last year deposed long-
time Sudanese President Omar
al-Bashir, who was subsequently
convicted of corruption. He
presided over the country during
the Darfur ethnic conflict, which
involved what the International
Criminal Court has deemed war
crimes by the Sudanese govern-
ment.
Earlier on Oct. 23, Trump
informed Congress of his intent
to remove Sudan’
s designation
as a state sponsor of terrorism,
which reportedly is part of the
agreement.
Sudan will get new leader-
ship in 2022, when the state’
s
agreed-upon transition period
ends. The north African coun-
try’
s state religion was Islam until
earlier this year.
The United Arab Emirates
and Bahrain have in recent
weeks launched fast tracks to
open up diplomatic affairs, trade
and tourism with Israel, but
Sudan is especially significant
because it is by far the largest of
the three countries, in land mass
and in population. It is also sym-
bolically significant because its
capital, Khartoum, is where the
Arab League met in 1967 after
the Six-Day War and issued its
“three no’
s” to reject any engage-
ment with Israel whatsoever and
to continue the state of war.
In 1984, the Sudanese author-
ities assisted in an airlift of
Ethiopian Jews to Israel. Sudan’
s
leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
in February met openly with
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu in Uganda.
There are also thousands of
refugees from Sudan’
s military
conflicts living in Israel.
RON KAMPEAS JTA
Sudan to Normalize
Ties with Israel
ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES VIA JTA
ERETZ
Sudan’s Sovereign
Council chief General
Abdel Fattah al-
Burhan speaks in the
capital Khartoum,
Sept. 26, 2020.
5829 Maple Rd. Ste. 129
West Bloomfi
eld, MI 48322
248.757.2503
www.maplepharmacyrx.com
FREE
DELIVERY
MAKE MAPLE PHARMACY… YOUR PHARMACY!
OUR MISSION IS TO BRING SERVICE BACK TO
PHARMACY FOR A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER YOU!!
10%
SENIOR CITIZEN
DISCOUNT
Maple Pharmacy offers:
MAPLE PHARMACY
IMMUNIZATIONS
AND SHINGLES
SHOTS AVAILABLE
Call Today! 248.919.1244
synergyhomecare.com/oaklandcounty
Care for
Everyone
Mom gave you
her best - now
she deserves
the best!
Call Jeanne Atkinson for the best
home care in Oakland County!
Discreet, light housekeeping, grocery shopping,
meal preparation, running errands, transportation,
companionship and personal care.