Against the background of the contacts to remove Sudan from the list of terrorist financiers, the Sudanese ambassador to the United States clarified: "Economic aid may encourage us to consider establishing relations with Israel."
Since the establishment of full diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the Arab media has been extensively concerned with the question, "Who will be the next country to normalize its relations with Israel?"
- And it seems that the answer to this is still unknown.
One of the main candidates is Sudan, which is seeking to receive a significant gesture from US President Donald Trump - removal from the list of countries that fund terrorism.
Bahrain, the Emirates and Israel sign peace agreements // Photo: GPO
In an interview with Sudan's Ambassador to the United States, Nur a-Din Sati, on Tuesday, he addressed the issue of normalization with Israel. "Economic aid may encourage us to consider establishing relations with Israel," Sati said. "However, the economic, psychological, social, political and historical situation does not allow this now.
The current government is a transitional government, but if we remove from the list of countries that fund terrorism and receive financial assistance - we will be able to present the possibility to the people. "
He added: "We want peace throughout the region. Sudan wants to ensure that the Palestinians exercise their rights, not be isolated. On the other hand, we want to be part of the regional and historical solution. Israel has a duty to bring about a solution to political and historical issues."
The fact that Sati holds an official position in Washington is no small thing.
He took office after a 23-year rift between Washington and Khartoum, and removal from the list of terrorist-financing countries occupies a central place in his activities.
"President Trump can decide to remove us from the list, but Congress will also have to approve it," the Sudanese ambassador clarified.
According to Sati, the presidential decree the president is expected to issue within a few days.
"He promised to consider it," the ambassador said.
"I asked him to do this in the expectation of a good relationship between us. He told me that the administration would do anything to remove us from the list of countries that fund terrorism."
In the short and unflattering list is Sudan alongside Iran, North Korea and Syria.
The economic consequences of being on this list make it difficult for Sudan to recover in the days following dictator Omar al-Bashir, and to try to make the country one of the leaders in Africa - after all, its potential is great.
