Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Reuters, file
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Reuters, file
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Reuters, file
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Reuters, file

MENA

Sudan drops 1958 Israel boycott law in 'historic step' towards normalisation

The US welcomed the move that promises 'opportunities for the people of Sudan, Israel, and across the region'

Hamza Hendawi
Hamza Hendawi
Cairo

April 20, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Sudan repealed its Israel boycott law in a move welcomed by the US as a 'historic' step towards Khartoum establishing ties with Israel.

The joint meeting of Sudan’s Cabinet and Sovereignty Council passed the decree late on Monday night to abolish the 1958 rule barring diplomatic, business and cultural relations with Israel as well as a blanket ban on interacting with Israeli citizens.

"The United States welcomes Sudan's repeal of its boycott of Israel," State Department Spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter.

“This historic step will create new, promising opportunities for the people of Sudan, Israel, and across the region.”

Last October, Sudan and Israel agreed to normalise relations under an accord sponsored by the US. That deal followed similar agreements signed by the UAE, Bahrain and Israel in August last year and was followed by Morocco in December.

Sudan’s Cabinet voted to repeal the law on April 6, but that decision needed approval by a joint meeting of the Cabinet and the Sovereignty Council to become law.

Amin Israil, the grandson of an Iraqi Jew who settled in Sudan and whose family later converted to Islam, and his daughter Salma view old family pictures at their home in Wad Madani, the capital of Sudan's Al Jazirah state. Like elsewhere in the Arab world, Sudanese Jews bore the brunt of growing anti-Israel sentiment amid conflict with the Jewish state. Decades later, their descendants see a recent rapprochement between their country and Israel as an opportunity to connect with their origins. AFP
Amin Israil, the grandson of an Iraqi Jew who settled in Sudan and whose family later converted to Islam, and his daughter Salma view old family pictures at their home in Wad Madani, the capital of Sudan's Al Jazirah state. Like elsewhere in the Arab world, Sudanese Jews bore the brunt of growing anti-Israel sentiment amid conflict with the Jewish state. Decades later, their descendants see a recent rapprochement between their country and Israel as an opportunity to connect with their origins. AFP
A view of grave markers at the 800-square-metre Jewish Cemetery in Sudan's capital Khartoum. The Jewish community in Sudan, like those of other Arab states, dwindled in the latter half of the 20th century, as tensions surrounding the 1948 creation of Israel permeated the region. AFP
A view of grave markers at the 800-square-metre Jewish Cemetery in Sudan's capital Khartoum. The Jewish community in Sudan, like those of other Arab states, dwindled in the latter half of the 20th century, as tensions surrounding the 1948 creation of Israel permeated the region. AFP
A broken grave marker in the Jewish Cemetery in Khartoum. AFP
A broken grave marker in the Jewish Cemetery in Khartoum. AFP
Salma Amin Israil, great-granddaughter of an Iraqi Jew who settled in Sudan and whose family later converted to Islam, and Yosar Basha, another Sudanese woman descended of Jewish origins, chat at Ms Israil's home. AFP
Salma Amin Israil, great-granddaughter of an Iraqi Jew who settled in Sudan and whose family later converted to Islam, and Yosar Basha, another Sudanese woman descended of Jewish origins, chat at Ms Israil's home. AFP
Inscriptions in the Hebrew alphabet and English on a grave at the Jewish cemetery in Khartoum. AFP
Inscriptions in the Hebrew alphabet and English on a grave at the Jewish cemetery in Khartoum. AFP
The Jewish community in Sudan was one of the smallest in the Middle East. AFP
The Jewish community in Sudan was one of the smallest in the Middle East. AFP
Dr Mansour Israil, the grandson of an Iraqi Jew who settled in Sudan and whose family later converted to Islam, outside his home in the neighbourhood once known as "the Jewish quarter" in Omdurman, the Sudanese capital's twin city across the Nile river. AFP
Dr Mansour Israil, the grandson of an Iraqi Jew who settled in Sudan and whose family later converted to Islam, outside his home in the neighbourhood once known as "the Jewish quarter" in Omdurman, the Sudanese capital's twin city across the Nile river. AFP
A grave at the Jewish Cemetery in Khartoum. Sudan’s Cabinet voted on April 6, 2021 to repeal a 1958 law mandating a boycott of Israel. AFP
A grave at the Jewish Cemetery in Khartoum. Sudan’s Cabinet voted on April 6, 2021 to repeal a 1958 law mandating a boycott of Israel. AFP
Graves at the cemetery in Khartoum. In October 2020, Sudan and Israel agreed to normalise relations in an accord sponsored by the US. AFP
Graves at the cemetery in Khartoum. In October 2020, Sudan and Israel agreed to normalise relations in an accord sponsored by the US. AFP

The Cabinet and the council are the two segments comprising Sudan's transitional administration, which came to office after an August 2019 power-sharing agreement between the pro-democracy group that orchestrated a wave of protests against the rule of dictator Omar Al Bashir and the generals who removed him in April 2019.

The latest move by the Sudanese government regarding Israel removes one more obstacle on the path towards establishing full relations with Israel.

But the countries have already exchanged high-level visits. Sudan also has opened its airspace to civilian Israeli aircraft and the two countries have been exploring ways to upgrade Sudan’s military industries, as well as agricultural and industrial co-operation.

The repeal of the 1958 rule will also remove the threat of fines or 10 years in prison for the roughly 6,000 Sudanese living in Israel if they return home and it opens the door for their relatives to visit them.

Most Arab states adopted a boycott of Israel after the formation of the state in 1948.

It reflected the depth of animosity felt by Arabs towards Israel for decades following several regional conflicts and the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Sudanese troops fought alongside Egypt against Israel during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.

Sudan also housed Egypt’s fighter jets and its air force academy to protect them from Israeli air strikes after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

After the 1967 war, which ended with Israeli victory, Arab leaders met in Khartoum and agreed on policies that shaped the Arab-Israeli conflict for years: no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel and no negotiations with Israel.

During the rule of Al Bashir, Israel launched air strikes on Sudan targeting suspected smuggling routes that it claimed were used to send arms to the Palestinian Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.

Since Khartoum signed the accord to normalise ties with Israel, the US has removed Sudan from the list of states that sponsor terrorism.

That removed international sanctions on Sudan and allowed it to again receive foreign financial assistance and investment from bilateral and international donors.

Basquiat in Abu Dhabi

One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier. 

It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.  

“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October

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The major Hashd factions linked to Iran:

Badr Organisation: Seen as the most militarily capable faction in the Hashd. Iraqi Shiite exiles opposed to Saddam Hussein set up the group in Tehran in the early 1980s as the Badr Corps under the supervision of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The militia exalts Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but intermittently cooperated with the US military.

Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade): Comprised of former members of the officially defunct Mahdi Army, a militia that was commanded by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and fought US and Iraqi government and other forces between 2004 and 2008. As part of a political overhaul aimed as casting Mr Al Sadr as a more nationalist and less sectarian figure, the cleric formed Saraya Al Salam in 2014. The group’s relations with Iran has been volatile.

Kataeb Hezbollah: The group, which is fighting on behalf of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria, traces its origins to attacks on US forces in Iraq in 2004 and adopts a tough stance against Washington, calling the United States “the enemy of humanity”.

Asaeb Ahl Al Haq: An offshoot of the Mahdi Army active in Syria. Asaeb Ahl Al Haq’s leader Qais al Khazali was a student of Mr Al Moqtada’s late father Mohammed Sadeq Al Sadr, a prominent Shiite cleric who was killed during Saddam Hussein’s rule.

Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba: Formed in 2013 to fight alongside Mr Al Assad’s loyalists in Syria before joining the Hashd. The group is seen as among the most ideological and sectarian-driven Hashd militias in Syria and is the major recruiter of foreign fighters to Syria.

Saraya Al Khorasani:  The ICRG formed Saraya Al Khorasani in the mid-1990s and the group is seen as the most ideologically attached to Iran among Tehran’s satellites in Iraq.

(Source: The Wilson Centre, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)

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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.

Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.

For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae

 

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Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

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Cheat’s nigiri 
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.

Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.

Deconstructed sushi salad platter 
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.

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THE BIO

Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain

Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude

Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE

Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally

Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science

Kalra's feat
  • Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
  • Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
  • Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
  • Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction
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