Israel-Sudan signing ceremony in Washington within months, minister says

Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen leads official delegation to Khartoum in an effort to forge economic cooperation, with the Israelis offering to bring water desalinization technology to the frequently famine-hit nation

Reuters|
Israel and Sudan will finalize a diplomatic deal to normalize relations at a signing ceremony in Washington in the next three months, Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said on Wednesday.
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  • There was no immediate comment from Sudanese officials or from the U.S. embassy in Israel.
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    אלי כהן
    אלי כהן
    Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen
    (Photo: Hadar Yoavian)
    Sudan's civilian government has said the deal to normalize relations with Israel can only take effect once approved by a transitional legislative council that is yet to be formed.
    Sudan joined the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco last year in agreeing to move toward normal relations with Israel in U.S.-brokered deals.
    The new U.S. administration of President Joe Biden has said it wants to build on those deals.
    "The peace agreement's draft is progressing and a signing ceremony for Israel and Sudan is expected in Washington in the next three months," Cohen told Ynet.
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    שר המודיעין אלי כהן וראש מועצת הריבונות של סודן אל-בורהאן
    שר המודיעין אלי כהן וראש מועצת הריבונות של סודן אל-בורהאן
    Eli Cohen and Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of Sudan's ruling sovereign council, meeting in Khartoum on Monday
    Cohen headed a delegation to Sudan on Monday that included representatives from the National Security Council that met with Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the ruling sovereign council, Sudanese Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim as well as other senior officials.
    He and his hosts discussed issues including economic cooperation and signed a first memorandum of understanding with Ibrahim on regional security and stability.
    Members of the delegation also raised potential economic cooperation between the two countries with an emphasis on water, agriculture, renewable energy, health and aviation.
    The Israelis explored the possibility of bringing water desalinization technology to Sudan.
    3 View gallery
    שר המודיעין אלי כהן וראש מועצת הריבונות של סודן אל-בורהאן
    שר המודיעין אלי כהן וראש מועצת הריבונות של סודן אל-בורהאן
    Eli Cohen and Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of Sudan's ruling sovereign council, meeting in Khartoum on Monday
    According to government officials, the Sudanese outlined their intention to scrap their laws imposing bans on Israeli products and said they would amend legislation mandating prison terms for returning citizens, thus clearing the way for Sudanese nationals seeking asylum in Israel to be repatriated.
    There was no immediate comment from Sudanese officials, but Israel said that a Sudanese government delegation is expected to visit Israel in the near future.
    Cohen told Ynet he brought his hosts oil and fruit from the Holy Land and as a parting gift received an M-16 assault rifle.
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