Sudanese, Israeli Officials Meet in Abu Dhabi

Israeli Ministers of Health Nitzan Horowitz and Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej arrive to attend the first weekly cabinet meeting of the new government in Jerusalem June 20, 2021. Emmanuel Dunand/Pool via REUTERS
Israeli Ministers of Health Nitzan Horowitz and Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej arrive to attend the first weekly cabinet meeting of the new government in Jerusalem June 20, 2021. Emmanuel Dunand/Pool via REUTERS
TT
20

Sudanese, Israeli Officials Meet in Abu Dhabi

Israeli Ministers of Health Nitzan Horowitz and Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej arrive to attend the first weekly cabinet meeting of the new government in Jerusalem June 20, 2021. Emmanuel Dunand/Pool via REUTERS
Israeli Ministers of Health Nitzan Horowitz and Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej arrive to attend the first weekly cabinet meeting of the new government in Jerusalem June 20, 2021. Emmanuel Dunand/Pool via REUTERS

Israel’s Minister for Regional Cooperation Esawi Frej held talks Wednesday with Sudanese Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari in Abu Dhabi.

The meeting focused on bolstering bilateral ties and cooperation in education and culture, which Frej considered more important than economic affairs.

“We must get to know one another and strengthen the humanitarian ties between us. Therefore, we agreed to advance joint projects in education and culture,” Frej tweeted, quoting Abdulbari.

Frej is the Arab minister from the left-wing Meretz party in Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government.

He kicked off a visit to the United Arab Emirates, heading a delegation including Israeli ministers and officials to hold meetings with Emirati officials and participate in the celebrations of the anniversary to sign the Abraham Accords.

These celebrations are attended by delegations from seven countries, which are partners in the accords, along with Jordan and Egypt.

In late 2020, Israel and Sudan announced the normalization of ties, according to which former Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen paid a visit to Khartoum early this year, which stirred anger in Sudan.

Earlier this week, an Israeli report said there was a secret visit by a Sudanese military delegation to Israel.

According to the news, Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, generally referred to as Hemedti, led the delegation to Israel to discuss bilateral relations, despite Sudan’s denial.

Sources close to Frej underscored the remarkable progress in relations between the two countries, but hoped for more progress.

Frej denied that such ties could have repercussions on the Palestinian cause.

“As a Palestinian, I struggle inside and outside the Israeli government to end the occupation and establish peace based on the two-state solution,” he stressed.

“I see in every relationship a step forward towards settling the entire conflict.”

“My visit to the UAE encouraged me to consolidate the conviction that the Abraham Accords would present a push forward in the settlement path,” he added.



Bernard Haykel to Asharq Al-Awsat: Trump’s Visit Reflects Saudi Arabia’s Significant Global Role

US President Donald Trump is welcomed in Riyadh during his visit to the Kingdom in May 2017. (SPA)
US President Donald Trump is welcomed in Riyadh during his visit to the Kingdom in May 2017. (SPA)
TT
20

Bernard Haykel to Asharq Al-Awsat: Trump’s Visit Reflects Saudi Arabia’s Significant Global Role

US President Donald Trump is welcomed in Riyadh during his visit to the Kingdom in May 2017. (SPA)
US President Donald Trump is welcomed in Riyadh during his visit to the Kingdom in May 2017. (SPA)

Dr. Bernard Haykel, professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University, said US President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday is very important and that it sends messages not just to the international community, but inside the US itself.

The messages indicate that Saudi Arabia is the most important country for American interests, not just in the Middle East, but the entire world, Haykel told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview.

Haykel added that Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has dedicated his life in service of his country and has set national interests above all else.

Haykel expects Trump’s visit to Riyadh to yield several bilateral agreements. The deals may cover vital sectors such as AI, the development of a peaceful nuclear program and facilitating arms deals.

He ruled out, however, reaching any agreement that would pave the way for the normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Such an agreement must be tied with a clear pledge from Israel to establish an independent sovereign Palestinian state.

‘Excellent’ relations

Trump’s visit is expected to be a success on several levels, notably on the level of bilateral ties or files related the war on Ukraine, Haykel went on to say.

Relations between Riyadh and Washington are “excellent”, as they have been during the final two year’s of former President Joe Biden’s term in office, despite the difference in policies, he noted.

Trump’s return to the White House has restored momentum in the bilateral relations, while Saudi Arabia recognizes the differences between the former and current administration, he continued.

The Kingdom has managed to build solid relations with both the Republican and Democratic parties based on its firm policy that is founded on consolidating regional security and stability, explained Haykel.

This policy intersects with American interests in several files, most notably achieving regional peace and over Iran’s nuclear program.

Trump and Biden both oppose Iran developing nuclear weapons, Haykel said.

Saudi Arabia’s global standing

By choosing Saudi Arabia again as the destination of his first foreign visit, Trump is clearly saying that the Kingdom is the United States’ most important partner, not just in the Middle East, but the world, Haykel added.

The Kingdom’s role in complex international files, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, consolidated its standing as an influential global player, he remarked.

He warned, however, that the visit is not without its risks. He explained that Trump still faces severe internal opposition, and his rivals will use the visit to target Saudi Arabia in the media.

Circumstances, though, have changed since his first term in office. The media attacks will not be as intense as the first time he visited the Kingdom given its balanced foreign policy and strong ties with the Republican and Democratic parties, predicted Haykel.

On this note, he hailed Crown Prince Mohammed’s ability to forge strong ties with world leaders. He has dedicated his life to serving the Kingdom and so, he realizes the importance of establishing strong ties with various world leaders.

The Crown Prince places Saudi interests above all else as demonstrated by his decision to open a new chapter in relations with Iran, for example, Haykel said.

No normalization

During Trump’s visit, Riyadh and Washington will likely negotiate a number of strategic agreements that cover security cooperation, a peaceful nuclear program, exchange of goods, AI and facilitating US arms sales to the Kingdom.

Some of these agreements were tied to Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel, said Haykel, but such a deal is unlikely to happen without the latter making real concessions to the Palestinians, starting with accepting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

It is obvious that Saudi Arabia will not go ahead with the normalization, he stressed. Strategic agreements will be separated from the normalization efforts.