‘ Yes, yes, yes,’ only a side plot in Sudan drama

The deeply symbolic value of normalization with Sudan should be clear to anyone familiar with the history of the IsraelArab conflict.

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his initial statement following the announcement of a third Arab state establishing ties with Israel: “In Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, in 1967, the Arab League adopted its three ‘ No’s’: ‘ No to peace with Israel, no to recognition of Israel and no to negotiations with Israel.’”

“However,” Netanyahu added,

“today Khartoum has said, ‘ Yes to peace with Israel, yes to recognition of Israel and yes to normalization with Israel.’”

The excitement is understandable. Unlike the UAE or Bahrain, this is a country where the hatred of Israel was clear for decades. It was a way station for Iranian arms going to Hamas and Hezbollah until fairly recently; Israel repeatedly bombed Sudan to stop the weapons from reaching their destinations.

This is a “great turnaround,” as Netanyahu said. It’s another domino falling, transforming Israel’s