Sudan Communist Party rejects normalization with Israel

By Ahmed Asem

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – The Sudanese Communist Party on Saturday rejected any deal to normalize relations with Israel.

"We stand by the rights of the Palestinian people and against normalization with Israel," Sadiq Yousef, a member of the party’s Central Committee said in statements to the official SUNA news agency.

Sudan has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

Last week, Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman said a normalization deal between Khartoum and Tel Aviv was imminent.

The ministry, however, denied the claim, saying the issue of the Sudanese-Israeli relations was not discussed. It also sacked the spokesman over the remarks.

The move came after the United Arab Emirates and Israel announced a US-brokered agreement to normalize their relations, including opening embassies in each other's territory.

The agreement is the third Israeli-Arab peace treaty in the Middle East, and the first involving a Gulf state.

Palestinian groups denounced the UAE-Israel deal, saying it does not serve the Palestinian cause and ignores the rights of Palestinians.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara