Palestinians decry Sudan-Israel normalization

By Awad al-Rajoub

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - The Palestinian Presidency and factions on Friday decried the normalization of ties between Sudan and Israel.

Earlier Friday, Trump announced that Sudan had agreed to open full diplomatic relations with Israel, making it the third nation in recent months to do so, after Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

The Palestinian Presidency in a statement condemned and rejected the "normalization of relations with the Israeli occupation state that usurps the land of Palestine."

It said that "nobody has the right to talk on behalf of the Palestinian people and its cause," asserting it will take the required decisions to protect their interest.

For his part, Abbas Zaki, a senior member of Fatah group, said that the normalization agreement between Khartoum and Tel Aviv would allow Israel to plunder Sudan's wealth.

He went on to say that "catching up with Israel in this serious circumstance is for the sake of a new Middle East, in which Israel becomes the ruler of the Arab region."

He added that normalization has become an "electoral case," and that "Trump found among the Arabs who could give up their religion and core cause for his success and the success of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu."

Zaki added that the countries which normalized with Israel will gain no benefit but will allow Israel to "plunder their wealth and control their human and material energy."

Also, Hamas group considered the normalization of relations between Sudan and Israel "a political sin that harms our Palestinian people and their just cause."

Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for the movement, told Anadolu Agency, "the normalization between Sudan and the occupation harms the national interests of Sudan and the national interests of the Arab nation."

He added, "normalization only serves the Zionist project and its expansionist policy in the region, and Trump benefits from it in the presidential elections and Netanyahu in his internal [political] struggle."

Prior to the most recent developments, Egypt and Jordan were the sole Arab nations to have relations with Tel Aviv. Egypt did so in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.

On Sept. 15, Bahrain and the UAE agreed to establish full diplomatic, cultural and commercial relations with Israel after signing controversial agreements at the White House.

The deals have drawn widespread condemnation from Palestinians, who say the accords ignore their rights and do not serve the Palestinian cause.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat