In the footsteps of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, Israeli officials are now expecting the main prize: a treaty with Saudi Arabia. Officials in Jerusalem and Washington alike are hinting heavily that the Saudis are nearing a decision to recognize Israel. With that, there are still no assurances Saudi Arabia will join Sudan, which this weekend became the fifth Arab nation to declare the establishment of peaceful relations with Israel.
According to assessments in Jerusalem and Washington, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin-Salman wants normalization with Israel, but his father, King Salman, is blocking the initiative for the time being. Regardless, all signs indicate that the treaties with the UAE and Bahrain were greenlighted by Riyadh.
By all accounts, it did so mainly because the Gulf states want to create a diplomatic-security bloc against Iran under the patronage of US President Donald Trump. The goal is also to help Trump get re-elected and to create facts on the ground just in case Joe Biden wins the US election.
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Sudan, formerly a pro-Iranian country, announced it would open talks with Israel to secure a peace agreement. It will become the third country to join the Abraham Accords framework initiated by the Trump administration. In the coming days, delegations from both countries are expected to meet publicly to tangibly advance normalization.
"We are changing the map of the Middle East," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "We will fly east, over Saudi Arabia to Bahrain and India, which will save a lot of time and money. Israel was isolated: We were told we were facing a diplomatic tsunami, and the exact opposite transpired. I am saying here and now -- more countries will sign treaties with Israel."
In a conference call on Saturday with Netanyahu and Sudan's Sovereign Council President Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, Trump said, "There are many, many more [peace deals] coming." At a press conference at the White House, the US president thanked the countries' leaders, saying the peace deal was a tremendous achievement of courageous leadership.
Trump sought to use the stage for his own political purposes, asking Netanyahu: "Do you think sleepy Joe [a reference to Biden] could have made this deal, Bibi. Do you think he would have made this deal? Somehow I don't think so."
The Israeli leader, in an effort to remain diplomatic, responded by saying: "Well, Mr. President, one thing I can tell you is that we appreciate the help for peace from anyone in America, and we appreciate what you've done enormously."
Sudan is a poor country with natural resources and limited capabilities, but bolstering ties with it will strengthen Israel's abilities to keep tabs on hostile elements operating in the Red Sea area. According to foreign reports, several African countries help Israel operate warning stations along the Rad Sea coast.
Moderate Arab-Sunni states were the first to welcome the treaty with Sudan. Other countries in the region, however, swiftly condemned the agreement and called on people to take to the streets in protest.
The UAE, which was the first to normalize relations with Israel with the framework of the Abraham Accords, offered its blessing.
"Sudan's decision to initiate relations with the State of Israel is an important step to enhance security, and prosperity in the region," Abu Dhabi's Foreign Ministry said in a statement to local media. "This achievement aims to expand the scope of economic, trade, scientific and diplomatic cooperation."
Bahrain, which followed the UAE in striking peace with the Jewish state in September, also hailed the move.
A government statement underlined the kingdom's support for Sudan's efforts "to exercise an active and constructive role in the international community."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, whose country in 1979 became the first Arab state to make peace with Israel, lauded the agreement.
"I welcome the joint efforts by the United States of America, Sudan, and Israel regarding the normalization of relations. I value all efforts aimed at achieving regional stability and peace," he tweeted.
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