Angry Protests Engulf Sudan After Deal With Zionist Regime
KHARTOUM (Dispatches) -- Angry Sudanese protesters have taken to the streets to condemn the current junta’s decision to follow the UAE and Bahrain in forging diplomatic relations with the occupying regime of Israel.
The agreement was sealed on Friday in a call between U.S. President Donald Trump, Zionist premier Benjamin Netanyahu, and Sudanese transitional leaders.
The Sudanese protesters rallied in the capital Khartoum Friday evening, calling on Sudan’s Sovereign Council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to reject the normalization deal.
"No to negotiations, peace ... and reconciliation with the (Israeli) regime,” they chanted. "We will neither surrender, nor will we relinquish ... We are standing with Palestine,” they cried as they set the Israeli flag on fire.
Prominent political factions also rejected the deal making Sudan the third Arab country to normalize relations with the Zionist regime this year, though some Sudanese officials have said it should be approved by a yet-to-be formed transitional parliament.
The decision came after the U.S. said it had removed Sudan from the state sponsors of terrorism list. Sudan, mired in economic crisis, was offered help with debt relief, food security and economic development in the statement announcing normalization.
Among those criticizing the deal was the National Consensus Forces Alliance, a leftist coalition and key component of the Freedom and Change (FFC) alliance that emerged from the uprising against former president Omar al-Bashir.
"The transitional power intentionally violates the constitutional document and makes steps towards normalization with the Zionist entity, breaking with the principles and commitments of Sudan’s Three Nos,” it said in a statement.
The "Three Nos” refers to a commitment made in Khartoum by Arab states in 1967 to "no recognition of Israel, no peace with Israel and no negotiations with Israel”.
The Popular Congress Party that backed Bashir, also condemned the move. On Thursday, veteran opposition leader Sadiq al-Mahdi threatened to pull the support of his Umma Party from the government if it went ahead with the move.
Cartoonist Khalid Albaih depicted a Sudanese protester being trampled by Trump and Netanyahu, reflecting a view widely shared on social media that the deal ran counter to revolutionary aims and was made without public consultation.
"The government must not have invoked to sell the country and Sudan’s history on the pretext of economic difficulties,” spokesman for the Sudanese Baath Party Muhammad Wadaa said.
"The government must resign and cede power to the people if it is unable to overcome difficulties by itself.”
Palestinians also strongly condemned Sudan’s agreement to normalize relations with the Zionist regime.
The Islamic resistance movement Hamas said in a statement that the move has shocked Palestinians, Arab and Muslim nations, as well as freedom-loving people of the world.
"Sudan, indeed, loses its position as a leading Arab and Muslim country by agreeing to sign such a deal,” the statement said.
Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), described the normalization of relations between Sudan and Israel as a "new stab in the back” of Palestinians.
President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian Authority will take necessary measures to protect the legitimate interests and rights of Palestinian people.
Iran’s foreign ministry described the deal as "phoney” and accused Khartoum of paying a ransom in return for Washington removing it from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Protests in Bahrain
In Bahrain, hundreds of people protested against the ruling Al Khalifah regime’s signing of the normalization deal with the Zionist regime.
Dozens of people took to the streets in the capital Manama on Friday, hoisting banners and placards in condemnation of the agreement, the Arabic-language Lualua television network reported.
Banners were displayed reading "Normalization is mortifying” and "No to humiliation!”. The demonstrators walked over the Israeli flag as well.
Similar demonstrations were also held in the villages of Al-Markh, Nuwaidrat, Sanabis and Bu Quwah in addition to A’ali town, where participants expressed solidarity with the Palestinian nation, according to footage that has surfaced online.
Protestors trampled on the U.S. flag and that of the Zionist regime in Bu Quwah and A’ali, before setting them on fire.
Bahraini regime forces reportedly broke out protests in the villages of Abu Saiba and Shakhura. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The agreement was sealed on Friday in a call between U.S. President Donald Trump, Zionist premier Benjamin Netanyahu, and Sudanese transitional leaders.
The Sudanese protesters rallied in the capital Khartoum Friday evening, calling on Sudan’s Sovereign Council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to reject the normalization deal.
"No to negotiations, peace ... and reconciliation with the (Israeli) regime,” they chanted. "We will neither surrender, nor will we relinquish ... We are standing with Palestine,” they cried as they set the Israeli flag on fire.
Prominent political factions also rejected the deal making Sudan the third Arab country to normalize relations with the Zionist regime this year, though some Sudanese officials have said it should be approved by a yet-to-be formed transitional parliament.
The decision came after the U.S. said it had removed Sudan from the state sponsors of terrorism list. Sudan, mired in economic crisis, was offered help with debt relief, food security and economic development in the statement announcing normalization.
Among those criticizing the deal was the National Consensus Forces Alliance, a leftist coalition and key component of the Freedom and Change (FFC) alliance that emerged from the uprising against former president Omar al-Bashir.
"The transitional power intentionally violates the constitutional document and makes steps towards normalization with the Zionist entity, breaking with the principles and commitments of Sudan’s Three Nos,” it said in a statement.
The "Three Nos” refers to a commitment made in Khartoum by Arab states in 1967 to "no recognition of Israel, no peace with Israel and no negotiations with Israel”.
The Popular Congress Party that backed Bashir, also condemned the move. On Thursday, veteran opposition leader Sadiq al-Mahdi threatened to pull the support of his Umma Party from the government if it went ahead with the move.
Cartoonist Khalid Albaih depicted a Sudanese protester being trampled by Trump and Netanyahu, reflecting a view widely shared on social media that the deal ran counter to revolutionary aims and was made without public consultation.
"The government must not have invoked to sell the country and Sudan’s history on the pretext of economic difficulties,” spokesman for the Sudanese Baath Party Muhammad Wadaa said.
"The government must resign and cede power to the people if it is unable to overcome difficulties by itself.”
Palestinians also strongly condemned Sudan’s agreement to normalize relations with the Zionist regime.
The Islamic resistance movement Hamas said in a statement that the move has shocked Palestinians, Arab and Muslim nations, as well as freedom-loving people of the world.
"Sudan, indeed, loses its position as a leading Arab and Muslim country by agreeing to sign such a deal,” the statement said.
Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), described the normalization of relations between Sudan and Israel as a "new stab in the back” of Palestinians.
President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian Authority will take necessary measures to protect the legitimate interests and rights of Palestinian people.
Iran’s foreign ministry described the deal as "phoney” and accused Khartoum of paying a ransom in return for Washington removing it from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.
"Pay enough ransom, close your eyes to the crimes against Palestinians, then you’ll be taken off the so-called ‘terrorism’ blacklist,” the ministry tweeted in English. "Obviously, the list is as phoney as the U.S. fight against terrorism. Shameful.”
In Bahrain, hundreds of people protested against the ruling Al Khalifah regime’s signing of the normalization deal with the Zionist regime.
Dozens of people took to the streets in the capital Manama on Friday, hoisting banners and placards in condemnation of the agreement, the Arabic-language Lualua television network reported.
Banners were displayed reading "Normalization is mortifying” and "No to humiliation!”. The demonstrators walked over the Israeli flag as well.
Similar demonstrations were also held in the villages of Al-Markh, Nuwaidrat, Sanabis and Bu Quwah in addition to A’ali town, where participants expressed solidarity with the Palestinian nation, according to footage that has surfaced online.
Protestors trampled on the U.S. flag and that of the Zionist regime in Bu Quwah and A’ali, before setting them on fire.
Bahraini regime forces reportedly broke out protests in the villages of Abu Saiba and Shakhura. There were no immediate reports of casualties.