The Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council in Sudan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, confirmed on Tuesday that the country’s decision to normalize ties with Israel stems from a national conviction.
Hemedti, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, denied the presence of foreign pressure on Khartoum, laying to rest claims that the US had blackmailed the North African state into normalizing relations with Tel Aviv.
Sudan’s historic commitment and stance towards the Palestinian cause does not prohibit its establishment of ties with Israel, Hemedti said, adding that the boycott has been worthless and did not benefit anyone.
“There is no enmity between us and Israel, and no war,” he stated.
“There is no Muslim or Arab army fighting to stand in solidarity with, this means that the boycott is worthless as a weapon,” Hemedti said, emphasizing that Sudan will “reap the fruits of peace and communication with Israel.”
Speaking about the public opinion on normalizing ties with Israel, Hemedti confirmed that 90% of the Sudanese people support the move.
He, however, highlighted that Sudan backs the Palestinian right to a sovereign state.
As for Arab resolutions that press for rejecting Israel on all levels, Hemedti said that “The Three No’s,” established at the 1967 Arab League summit, “did not benefit Sudan in anything.”
That summit is famous for its Khartoum Resolution known as "The Three No's"; No peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with Israel.
“We are working to reconcile with the whole world and Israel is a part of it,” Hemedti affirmed.
“Sudan has suffered from international isolation for more than 27 years, due to it being listed by the US as a terror sponsoring state,” he explained.
On the war in Darfur, Hemedti said that it constitutes “a revolt against the state.”
He held the state accountable for the crimes committed, but denied it having carried out any ethnic cleansing campaigns.
As the head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an amalgamation of Sudanese paramilitary forces operated by the government, Hemedti said that the RSF will eventually merge with the Sudanese army according to a peace deal between the state and armed factions.
