Israel, Sudan announce deal normalizing ties

US President Donald Trump announces that Sudan will normalize relations with Israel, a landmark step after two Gulf Arab nations moved to recognize Israel.

Moments after Trump formally moved to remove Sudan from a US list of state sponsors of terrorism, reporters were escorted to the Oval Office where he was on the phone with leaders of Israel and Sudan.

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“Sudan and Israel have agreed to the normalization of relations -- another major step toward building peace in the Middle East with another nation joining the Abraham Accords” that involve Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, Trump aide Judd Deere wrote on Twitter.

“[Sudan] will be the third country where we're doing this and we have many, many more coming, they're coming at us hot and heavy,” says US President @realDonaldTrump on more countries joining the #AbrahamAccords to normalize ties with #Israel.https://t.co/pHFwrgijS4 pic.twitter.com/6xUdL3E49q

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 23, 2020

Trump on Friday also formally moved to delist Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, a step long sought by the Arab nation which faces US pressure to normalize relations with Israel.

The White House said that Sudan's civilian-backed transitional government had deposited $335 million as part of an agreement to compensate survivors and family members of attacks that took place when former dictator Omar al-Bashir welcomed al-Qaeda.

"This is a new era. An era of true peace. A peace that is expanding with other Arab countries - three of them in recent weeks," #Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in a televised statement after normalizing relations with #Sudan.https://t.co/eOYLOarpBg pic.twitter.com/iJ6ztPqivO

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 23, 2020

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Sudan will proceed with Israel normalization if legislative council approves: Reuters

Israeli minister predicts a normalization deal with Sudan before US election