Normalization with 'Israel' jeopardized by Sudan fighting : Axios
'Israel' is pushing for a ceasefire between the warring parties in Sudan after the fight put a normalization deal between Sudan and the occupation at risk.
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General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Khartoum, Sudan, February 2, 2023. Sudan Sovereignty Council Press Handout. (Reuters)
"Israel" has been in contact with generals of both the Sudanese Army Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) urging them to stop their fighting, according to a report by Axios.
The Israeli occupation fears that the ongoing clashes will hinder the formation of a prospect of an Israeli-allied civilian government, which would jeopardize the normalization agreement between Sudan and the Israeli occupation.
The entity has also built strong relationships with both warring generals, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), and their descent into armed conflict puts it in a peculiar position.
Then-US President Donald Trump brokered normalization agreements between the Israeli entity and several Arab heads of state in 2020. However, the military takeover of Sudan led the US to suspend aid to the country and freeze normalization efforts.
Before clashes ensued, Israeli officials said they were actively following up on the process of appointing a civilian-led government in Sudan.
Eli Cohen, the Foreign Minister of "Israel", visited Khartoum in February and urged al-Burhan to proceed with restoring civilian rule, emphasizing that it will be challenging to secure a peace agreement without it.
According to Israeli sources of Axios the Israeli Foreign Ministry has been in contact with Al-Burhan over the normalization process, while Hemedti and the Mossad intelligence agency have met and discussed “security” and “counterterrorism issues”.
Israeli officials were certain of an agreement to appoint a civilian government in the upcoming days; however, what transpired was fierce fighting that spread over multiple cities in the country.
The White House has also pushed Israelis to mediate a ceasefire deal between the fighting generals. Hemedti was approached by Mossad while the Foreign Ministry spoke to Al-Burhan.
"We are following with concern the events in Sudan. "Israel" wants stability and security for Sudan," an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, adding that "Israel calls on all parties to refrain from violence and to return to the path of internal reconciliation, in order to conclude the process of governmental transition with a large consensus."
