Sudanese Foreign Ministry says it looks forward to peace with Israel

 Sudan and Israel sent each other messages of peace and reconciliation on Monday, leading to speculation that the countries could be on the verge of normalizing ties and establishing formal diplomatic relations.

In the late afternoon, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told Sky News Arabia that Sudan looks forward to a peace agreement with Israel. His words followed the announcement last week of a pending peace deal between the Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

"There is no reason for the continuation of hostility between Sudan and Israel," the Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman said. "We do not deny the existence of contacts between the two countries."

Both Israel and Sudan would benefit from such an agreement, the spokesman said.

Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately responded, saying: "Israel, Sudan and the entire region will benefit from the peace agreement and together they can build a better future for all the peoples of the region. We will do everything necessary to make this vision a reality."

Netanyahu lauded the courageous decision to promote peace between Israel and Sudan made by Lt.-Gen. Abdel Fatah Abdeirahman al-Burhan, who chairs the Sudanese Sovereignty Council.

The two men had met in Uganda in February of this year.

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi also responded, adding that Sudan's willingness to make peace with Israel, has tremendous symbolic significance. He noted that 53 years ago, in the aftermath of the Six-Day War, Arab states met in Sudan's capital of Khartoum to reject recognition of Israel and to work toward its destruction.

"I welcome any step that promotes a normalization, peace, agreements and recognition between [Israel and Arab] countries," Ashkenazi said.

Israeli diplomatic activity led by the Foreign Ministry has created important opportunities such as the connection between Israel and Sudan, Ashkenazi tweeted. "In the near future, we will continue to discuss  improvements in the relations until a peace agreement is signed  that respects the interests of both parties," Ashkenazi added.

An agreement with Sudan would be the fourth peace treaty for Israel with an Arab state. The US and Israel have said that it expects more deals with Arab countries to follow the deal the one announced last week with the UAE.

Peace with Sudan would break the country away from Iran's orbit. In recent years, Tehran gained access to Port Sudan on the Red Sea for its naval forces and Iranian ships have in the past transferred arms to Gaza through Sudan and into Egypt. This was one of the key supply routes for Hamas as it built up its capacity to wage war against Israel. As a result of the Yemen war, Sudan decided that it would no longer maintain a pro-Iranian orientation; it now aligned its foreign policy with Saudi Arabia. As a result, Hamas lost its Sudanese line of supply.