Sudan cabinet votes to repeal ‘Israel’ boycott law

Khartoum (QNN)- Sudan’s cabinet voted on Tuesday to repeal a 1958 law that forbade diplomatic and business relations with the occupation state of ‘Israel’.

The move still needs the approval of a joint meeting of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and cabinet, which together act as Sudan’s interim legislative body, to come into effect, the cabinet said.

While Sudan’s civilian authorities have maintained that the decision to initiate relations with the occupation state would be left to the yet-to-be-formed transitional parliament, Tuesday’s vote is seen as a step that could pave the way for official visits and further diplomatic ties.

“The council of ministers approved a bill repealing the 1958 boycott of Israel law,” the cabinet said in a statement.

The statement also steessed “Sudan’s firm position on the establishment of a Palestinian state within the framework of a two-state solution”.

The 1958 law was in line with the policies of Arab nations at the time towards ‘Israel’.

Penalties for those who violated its stipulations, such as trading with Israelis, included up to 10 years in jail and a hefty fine.

But the political landscape has changed as Sudan, along with Gulf countries and Morocco, have normalized ties last year with the occupation state in deals brokered by the administration of former US President Donald Trump, under the name of Abraham accords.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen welcomed Khartoum’s move.

“This is an important and necessary step toward the signing of a peace accord between the countries,” Cohen said in a statement, which did not expand on when such an event might take place.

#BREAKING: after 63 years, the Sudanese government has announced the repeal of the boycott law against Israel

— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) April 6, 2021

🇮🇱🇸🇩
שר המודיעין אלי כהן :
"אני מברך את ממשלת סודן על החלטת ביטול חוק החרם על ישראל
זה צעד חשוב והכרחי לקראת חתימה על הסכם שלום בין המדינות
שתה"פ ביננו יתרום ליציבות ביטחונית אזורית @elicoh1

בתמונה:
השר כהן עם נשיא סודן אל-בורהאן מביקורו בחודש ינואר בח'רטום, שם הובטח ביטול החרם. pic.twitter.com/k09eWoohvO

— שמעון ארן شمعون آران (@simonarann) April 6, 2021

The bill will be presented for final approval from the country’s ruling Sovereign Council, made up of military and civilian figures, before it is passed into law.