BICOM

Israeli envoys held a secret meeting in Istanbul with Sudanese officials last year as part of an attempt to reopen a diplomatic dialogue between the two countries, according to Israel’s Channel 10 News.

The meeting took place in the Istanbul office of a Turkish businessman and close confidant of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The talks were led on the Sudanese side by a senior aide to then-intelligence chief, Mohamed Atta, who is now serving as Sudan’s ambassador to the United States.

Israeli and Sudanese officials discussed improving bilateral relations, common threats, the fight against terrorism and the possibility of Israeli aid to Sudan in the fields of medicine, agriculture and the economy. Israel’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the meeting but did not deny that it took place.

There has been deep hostility between the Israel and Sudan for decades and Israel is the only country in the world that Sudan does not allow its citizens to visit legally. Sudan previously allowed Hamas to establish an office in the country and was a close ally of Iran. Israel has also reportedly intercepted and destroyed transfers of weapons from Sudan bound for Gaza. Since 2014 Sudan started to distance itself from Tehran and pivot toward Saudi Arabia. In response, Israel began in 2016 to quietly suggest to that the US and EU members increase economic aid to Sudan.

Israel has been in contact with Sudan for some time to explore whether it might be possible to renew diplomatic relations with the Arab-Muslim country. The secret Istanbul meeting is the latest  phase of Israel’s strategy to normalise relations with other Muslim-majority African countries like Sudan, Chad, Mali and Niger.

The secret meeting was discussed between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the president of Chad, Idriss Déby, who arrived in Israel this week on a historic visit after five months of secret talks between Israel and Chadian officials. Déby told Netanyahu he is ready to encourage Sudan to improve ties with Israel.