South Sudan will uphold diplomatic relations with Israel despite Palestinian
pressure, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir told MK Danny Danon (Likud) on
Monday.
Kiir said that Hamas leaders Khaled Mashaal and Ismail Haniyeh
told him that as an Arab state, his country should cut ties with
Israel.
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“I told them that I see Israeli embassies in Jordan and Egypt,
and South Sudan is not an Arab state,” Kiir explained to Danon, who flew to the
world’s youngest country on a visit intended to strengthen diplomatic ties and
discuss refugees.
Kiir also agreed to Danon’s request that the future
South Sudanese embassy in Israel be built in Jerusalem, and he said he would
visit the country.
The new African country’s Deputy Parliament Speaker
Daniel Akot said that “Israel is like a big brother to South Sudan,” and
recounted that Israeli flags were waved at the state’s declaration of
independence, 59 days ago.
Kiir asked Danon to promote vocational
training for Sudanese refugees in Israel, so they could successfully return to
their homeland.
“The Sudanese people have undergone ups and downs, but
its luck has improved with the establishment of a new, civilized state,” Danon
said. “The world must help rehabilitate the Sudanese people and support the
refugees who left families and homes behind by helping them return safely to
their new state.”
On Tuesday, Danon plans to meet with former refugees
who returned to South Sudan after working in Israel.
Danon said he
intends to discuss with them ways to streamline the process of sending refugees
from Israel after vocational training.
In meetings with the Sudanese
Industry and Trade Minister, Foreign Minister and Finance Minister on Monday,
Danon also discussed ways the new African state can work with Israel, pointing
out that South Sudan has oil, gold, silver, lead, copper and other
resources.
“Israel’s technological wealth and South Sudan’s wealth of
natural resources are a sure recipe for prosperity in both states,” he said.
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