‘An extraordinary period of history’
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia "welcomes the historic announcement by Sudan that it will normalise relations with Israel".
AUSTRALIA’S Jewish roof body says Sudan agreeing to make peace with Israel “is even more significant than the UAE and Bahrain agreements given Sudan’s infamous role in the political war on Israel”.
Reacting to last week’s announcement, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said, “The move towards normalisation with Sudan is another historic moment that we cherish as Jews, as Zionists and as believers in peace between Israel and the Arab world.”
Noting the Khartoum Declaration “explicitly rejected peace and normalisation with Israel, and Sudan’s more recent role in the smuggling of Iranian weapons to Hamas”, he added, “We commend the US administration for this latest breakthrough and congratulate the Israeli government and diplomatic corps for their tireless efforts to achieve the peace and security of Israel.”
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia “welcomes the historic announcement by Sudan that it will normalise relations with Israel”, adding it is “another significant step” for reconciliation and peace in the Middle East.
Echoing the sentiment, federal Labor MP Josh Burns told The AJN, “The momentum in the Middle East is with peace.
“Sudan and Israel have taken profound steps forward to ensure safety and stability for future generations. And we send our congratulations and appreciation from Down Under.”
Meanwhile, Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler enthused, “We are living through an extraordinary period of history.
“Israeli-Sudanese normalisation is not only welcome in and of itself, but is extremely important as a symbol. The spirit of our times is a new ‘Khartoum Resolution’: yes to peace with Israel, yes to recognition of Israel, and yes to negotiations with it. The wind of change is sweeping the region, and all who harness its potential deserve congratulations.”
He added, “The fact that Arab states are turning their backs on the failed ideologies of the past, to embrace new futures that are good for their people and for the region is something all peace-loving people should applaud.”
Stating, “This is further, substantial evidence that there is a genuine change of heart, bringing about a trend of Arab leaders preferring peace to hostility in the interests of their own countries, the region and beyond,” Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein added, “The Israel-Sudan agreement comes as Sudan transitions away from the dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir and towards a participatory democracy. This is a real sign Sudan’s interim leadership prefers cooperation to conflict.”
He concluded, “We look forward to more Arab League and Muslim-majority countries also opting for peace and normalisation over continued conflict.”
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