Cohen visits Khartoum to ease pressure on Netanyahu
By: Dr. El-Fateh Othman Mahjoub
Head of Economic Studies Department
Al-Rasid Centre for Political and Strategic Studies
Eli Cohen’s visit to Sudan is an extension of normalization plans drawn up by the former US President Trump’s administration with then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within the context of the “Abraham Accords”, about the Prophet Abraham (PBUH), who is considered the father of the three monotheistic religions.
The accord claims to portray that Jews and Muslims have something in common: the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) – these agreements were supposed to include Sudan, which had hosted a conference then dubbed the” Three No’s”, which succeeded in mobilizing the Arab nation behind the fight against Israel and objection to peace and normalization with Israel.
The Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in his press conference that he held In Jerusalem, his visit to Khartoum means the “end of the effect of the Three Noes and the beginning of yes to peace, yes to normalization, and yes to the partnership.”, a reference to an end to that era of Arab hostility towards Israel.
The normalization of relations between Israel and Khartoum is considered a bridge to pave the way for normalization with the great prize, i.e. the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister was blessed by America, which was keen to finalize Sudan’s normalization of ties with Israel with the present interim officials in Khartoum, namely Gen. Al-Burhan and his civilian partners from the forces of freedom and change- the Central Council.
However, domestic pressure is mounting on Benjamin Netanyahu, who returned to power. The Israeli officials to visit Khartoum were painted as smooth but no agreements have been inked as yet between the two countries. Concluding the final accord has been referred to after the formation of a Sudanese political consensus government with civilian leadership.
The visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister was merely political propaganda that was badly needed by Benjamin Netanyahu in the face of the Israeli public opinion, which is doubting the effectiveness of his government in the wake of the latest bombings in Jerusalem and the West Bank.