JERUSALEM/ISRAEL: Israel recognises South Sudan and offers economic aid as refugees celebrate independence

Record ID: 1533603

  • Title: JERUSALEM/ISRAEL: Israel recognises South Sudan and offers economic aid as refugees celebrate independence
  • Date: 11th July 2011
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JULY 10, 2011) (REUTERS) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU WALKING INTO WEEKLY MEETING OF HIS CABINET WIDE OF NETANYAHU CONVENING MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING: "Yesterday a new state was founded, South Sudan. I announce here that Israel recognises South Sudan. We wish it success. It is a peace-seeking country and we would be happy to cooperate with it in order to ensure its development and prosperity. Greetings to South Sudan." MINISTERS DURING MEETING WIDE OF NETANYAHU IN CABINET MEETING TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (JULY 10, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SUDANESE ASYLUM SEEKERS LIVING IN ISRAEL DANCING IN CELEBRATION OF SOUTH SUDAN INDEPENDENCE VARIOUS OF SUDANESE ASYLUM SEEKERS IN 'INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION' MEN HOLDING LEAFLETS READING 'HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY' MORE OF DANCING
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2011 03:28
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jerusalem, Israel
  • City:
  • Country: Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8WDZZT9NZQVO1S64CRLZ99RZZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Israel recognised South Sudan on Sunday (July 10), offering economic help after it seceded from the Arab Muslim north, which has no relations with the Jewish state.
    "I announce here that Israel recognises South Sudan," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of a weekly meeting of his cabinet in Jerusalem.
    "We wish it success. It is a peace-seeking country and we would be happy to cooperate with it in order to ensure its development and prosperity."
    South Sudan, where most follow Christian and traditional African beliefs, declared independence on Saturday (July 9) in line with a January referendum that was the culmination of a 2005 peace deal ending decades of civil war with the north.
    Israel is home to thousands of Sudanese refugees and migrant workers who arrived by foot through the Egyptian Sinai.
    According to Israeli media, around 8,700 asylum seekers from Sudan are currently living in Israel; at least 1,600 are from Southern Sudan. The Ma'ariv newspaper reported on Sunday that around 600 of those asylum seekers are planning to return to their new state in two planned flights, but did not specify a date.
    In Tel Aviv, hundreds of Sudanese celebrated the announcement of independence. Women and men joined in traditional dances while children blew white balloons.
    "But today we have freedom, we have freedom. Independent in our country. We know where we are live, we are know who is there, we are know where we come from. Before we don't know that. Nobody feel happy before in South Sudan. All the South Sudan don't feel happy but now we happy," Sophia Charles told Reuters Television.
    "I am very glad because I am free. Because we have a war, civil war in Africa 50 (inaudible) years and now we have our freedom," said Amos Ring John, another asylum seeker from South Sudan who is living in Israel.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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