JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An Israeli cabinet minister on Monday for the first time led an official delegation to Sudan to discuss moving forward on a U.S.-brokered deal in October to normalise relations.
“I am confident this visit lays the foundations for many important collaborations that will assist both Israel and Sudan as well as security stability in the region,” Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said in a statement after returning home.
There was no immediate comment from Sudanese officials.
Sudan joined the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco last year in agreeing to move toward normal relations with Israel. The new U.S. administration of President Joe Biden has said it wants to build on those deals.
Cohen, the first minister to head such a trip, said he met with Sudanese leaders and that the Israeli delegation discussed with their hosts a variety of diplomatic and security issues as well as the potential for economic cooperation.
It was agreed that a Sudanese delegation will travel to Israel, according to the Israeli statement.
(Reporting by Dan Williams; Editing by David Gregorio and Lisa Shumaker)
