Sudan Repeals Israel Boycott Law Amid Normalization Efforts

CAIRO (AP) —
Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen with Sudanese Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Yassin Ibrahim Yassin in Jan., when a delegation to Sudan traveled to discuss the normalization deal. (Arie Shleicher)

Sudan on Monday abolished a decades-old law on boycotting Israel as part of efforts to establish normal ties.

A bill was approved at a joint meeting of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council and Cabinet that annuls the 1958 law. The law had forbidden diplomatic and economic ties with Israel, Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari said in a Twitter post.

Sudan is on a fragile path to democracy after a popular uprising led the military to overthrow longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. The country is now ruled by a joint military and civilian government that seeks better ties with Washington and the West.

The Cabinet approved the bill that repealed the old law earlier this month. The Cabinet also affirmed Sudan’s endorsement of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as part of a two-state settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Monday’s measure would allow Sudanese to do business with Israelis. It would also allow Sudanese to visit relatives living in Israel. There are at least 6,000 Sudanese in Israel.

 

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!