Sudan says rebel’s office in Israel proves “foreign hands” in Darfur
February 29, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan has condemned a Darfur rebel leader for opening an office in Israel saying it gives “a material proof that Darfur crisis is manipulated by foreign hands and a Jewish lobby.”
Sudanese Presidential Assistant and government top negotiator for Darfur peace talks said that Abdel Wahid al-Nur wanted to establish direct relations with Israel, instead of dealing with the Israeli lobby in America.
He also accused Abdel Wahid of placing Sudanese in Israel “to convert them to Judaism.”
He considered this step as provocative action to Sudanese people and particularly to the Fur tribe.
While the Sudanese state minister of information, Kamal obeid, said that Abdel Wahid move targets Sudan in its unity and faith predicting strong reaction from Darfur people.
Sudan, which considers Israel as enemy state, has no diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv and remains hostile to the Jewish state on the grounds that it is occupying Arab lands.
“The revolution that started in Darfur intends to change some of the norms in Sudan including the taboo regarding the relations with Israel” Al-Nur had told Sudan Tribune this week.
Sudanese refugees started sneaking into Israel through Egypt regularly in 2005 and the numbers increased as violence raged in the troubled Darfur region.
Despite its severe policy against illegal migrants, Israel made exceptions for 600 Sudanese who were granted temporary residency after fleeing fighting in Darfur.
The Israeli Interior Ministry said that the Darfuris would be allowed to stay in Israel “as long as necessary”.
(ST)