Israel Matzav

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Awesome: South Sudan to establish embassy in Jerusalem

Just a few days ago marked five years since El Salvador moved its embassy to Tel Aviv, leaving Israel's capital city without a single foreign embassy. Now, we're finally going to have an embassy in Jerusalem. South Sudan has decided to establish their embassy here (Hat Tip: Lisa Graas via Twitter).

South Sudan president [Salva Kiir] also agreed to [Likud MK Danny] Danon’s request that the future South Sudanese embassy in Israel be built in Jerusalem and also pledged to pay a visit to Israel at an unspecified date.

...

Kiir’s position contrasts sharply with South Sudan’s pledge a few weeks ago that it will support Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations next month. The move is strongly opposed by Israel.

Maybe South Sudan will vote against 'Palestinian statehood' too. Heh.

And by the way, I'm not posting this based solely on a fellow blogger whom I don't know. The original story is here.

Labels: Salva Kiir, South Sudan, South Sudanese embassy in Jerusalem

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

South Sudan resists pressure to cut ties with Israel

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir told Israeli MK Danny Danon on Monday that South Sudan will uphold its diplomatic relations with Israel, despite pressure from Abu Mazen and Ismail Haniyeh to break relations.

"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 to Israel be built in Jerusalem, and said he would visit Israel.

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.

This is beginning to look like a win-win situation for Israel.

Read the whole thing.

Labels: Danny Danon, Salva Kiir, South Sudan