Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla HamdokREUTERS

Sudan is likely to normalize relations with Israel in the near future, Sudanese sources claim in a report by Channel 13.

The report, which was published Wednesday afternoon, cited multiple unnamed Sudanese officials who said that the recent high-level talks between the US and the Sudanese government were “very positive”, and indicated that it is increasingly likely Sudan will establish normal relations with Israel – most likely in the “very near future”.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has pushed in recent weeks for a breakthrough with Sudan which would end the country’s pariah status in the West and lead to closer relations between Sudan and Israel.

The new civilian-led government in Sudan has lobbied the Trump administration to remove it from the US blacklist of terrorism sponsors – a move the US has conditioned in part on Khartoum’s payment of $335 million in a compensation package for its role in a wave of Al Qaeda terrorist bombings on US embassies in 1998.

Khartoum has also sought promises of US aid – an issue which has been at the center of talks between the two sides.

According to Wednesday’s report, Sudan is prepared to normalize relations with Israel, if an agreement can be worked on with the US on economic aid and the compensation package.