Thread by @SameralAtrush

U.S. push for Sudan to recognize Israel falters — and puts Khartoum in a tight spot

washingtonpost.com/world/africa/u…

"According to two Sudanese officials with knowledge of the talks, they faltered partly because Sudanese negotiators feared a rushed recognition of Israel, without a large-enough economic relief package to sweeten the deal, could turn popular support against Sudan's ...government"

"Linking the lifting of Sudan from the terror list with Israel normalization is pure blackmailing," said one of the two Sudanese officials, a senior member of the civilian government. "The U.S. administration is potentially undermining the transitional government."

Meanwhile...

Sudan had been working for more than a year toward getting removed from the United States' list of state sponsors of terrorism, which has blocked the country's access to the international banking system for nearly three decades.

Hamdok, an economist and leader of Sudan's civilian government, which shares power with a military council, has staked his credibility on promises to get Sudan removed from the terrorism list, as well as on preventing an economic meltdown

And the salt in the wound for Sudan after a democratic uprising:

"The Sudanese have fallen into the trap of overestimating their value and not realizing that getting them off the SST list is important only to themselves," said a U.S. official with knowledge of the talks