Sudan’s cabinet decided on Tuesday to repeal a law dating back to 1958 that barred diplomatic or business relations with Israel, it said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The decision still needs to be confirmed in a joint meeting between its sovereign council and cabinet before going into effect, though it is being seen as key to paving the way for more official ties.
According to the report, Sudan’s military is behind the move.
Sudan was one of several Arab countries that normalized relations with Israel after the initial U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in September. Morocco also followed suit shortly afterwards to solidify ties with the Jewish state.
Israel’s Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen, who led a delegation to Sudan in January, said in a statement: “This is an important and necessary step toward the signing of a peace accord between the countries.”
