Israeli PM meets Sudan’s leader, aims for ‘normalisation’

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP):

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday he met with the leader of Sudan’s transitional government and that they began the process of normalisation, a major diplomatic breakthrough after years of Israeli efforts to improve ties with African nations.

Netanyahu said he met with General Abdel-Fattah Burhan in Entebbe, Uganda, a meeting that was only made public afterwards when the prime minister tweeted about it in Hebrew.

“We agreed to begin cooperation that will lead to normalisation of relations between the two countries,” Netanyahu tweeted. “History!”

Netanyahu’s office said the meeting came at the invitation of Uganda. It said Netanyahu “believes that Sudan is moving in a new and positive direction, and the prime minister expressed his views to the U.S. Secretary of State.”

That appeared to be a reference to Sudan’s efforts to be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, a key step in rebuilding its economy following the uprising that toppled longtime strongman Omar al-Bashir last year.

In recent years, Netanyahu has pushed to improve ties with African countries that have long had cool relations with Israel over the conflict with the Palestinians. Restoring diplomatic ties with Sudan — a member of the Arab League — will be seen in Israel as a major achievement. U.S. allies Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab countries that have peace agreements with Israel.

It could also give Netanyahu a boost ahead of March 2 elections. He has portrayed himself as a world-class statesman who has developed close ties with world leaders as he has tried to keep the focus off his recent indictment on corruption charges.

Netanyahu arrived in Uganda yesterday, saying his country is ”returning to Africa in a big way” and urging the East African country to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

Before departing Israel, Netanyahu spoke of “very important diplomatic, economic and security ties that will yet be told about”.

He said that at the end of his visit to the East African nation he hopes to “have very good news” for Israel.

The Israeli leader was welcomed by Uganda’s prime minister at the international airport in Entebbe, where Netanyahu’s brother Yonatan was fatally struck by a bullet as he led Israeli commandos in a daring mission to rescue hijacked Israeli passengers in 1976. Israel’s success in the raid humiliated then-Ugandan President Idi Amin, under whose rule Israel closed its embassy in Uganda.

Netanyahu, who was accompanied by his wife Sara, held a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and other officials. In a news conference later yesterday, Netanyahu said he would open an embassy in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, if Museveni established one in Jerusalem. The Ugandan leader responded by saying his government is “studying” the matter.