Assistant to the US President Avi Berkowitz said he is optimistic about the chances that more Arab countries will normalize ties with Israel in the near future amid reports Oman and Sudan will soon follow suit.
Tremendous efforts are being exerted to normalize ties between Israel and several Arab countries, he stated, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The UAE officials expressed their wish to be first to normalize ties with Israel, which is “a very courageous act,” according to Berkowitz. “You need parties that are willing to take courageous steps, and had they not been ready to be first, we may not be where we are.”
Berkowitz endorsed statements made last week by the US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft who revealed that a new Arab state will soon normalize ties with Israel.
Sudan and Oman may join the ranks of countries normalizing ties with Israel as soon as next week, an Israeli daily said on Friday.
According to a report by Maariv, Muscat and Khartoum are currently engaged in intensive US-brokered talks with Israel “with the aim of announcing peace agreements next week.”
The newspaper said significant progress has been made between Israel and Oman, with both sides having agreed on releasing a joint statement soon.
“The statement will be published next week, and if technical difficulties arise, it will be announced in the following week,” read the report.
On Sudan, the newspaper reported that a possible deal has been put off until a new government and parliament are finalized in the North African country.
However, it said Washington opposes any postponement and is pressing Sudanese officials to move forward immediately, promising in return to remove Sudan from the US’ list of countries accused of supporting terrorism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Feb in Uganda Sudan's Sovereignty Council chair General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. There is another prospective meeting, reliable sources revealed.
