Sudan Seeks Help From Israel Offering A Lovely Carrot On The Stick

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                   

Sudan, a country of 51,662,147 population which is 0.63% of the world population while Israel is 0.02%

Israel and Sudan signed a normalization agreement in October, 2020.

• This agreement is more complicated than the others because Sudan's government is going through a transition with the stated goal of becoming more democratic.

• There are some difficulties in implementing a normalization agreement, namely that Sudan must first repeal a domestic law that prohibits relations with Israel. Progress has also been slowed by opposition from some groups in Sudan and a precarious transition in the government.  Right now Sudan is involved in war.  

The African refugee population in Israel, who caused an uproar, primarily consisted of Sudanese and Eritrean migrants arriving through the Sinai Desert, with early waves coming mainly from Sudan, and later from Eritrea. African immigration to Israel is the international movement to Israel from Africa of people that are not natives or do not possess Israeli citizenship in order to settle or reside there. This phenomenon began in the second half of the 2000s, when a large number of people from Africa entered Israel, mainly through the then-lightly fenced border between Israel and Egypt in the Sinai Peninsula. 

According to the data of the Israeli Interior Ministry, 26,635 people arrived illegally in this way by July 2010, and over 55,000 by January 2012. In an attempt to curb the influx, Israel constructed the Egypt–Israel barrier. Since its completion in December 2013, the barrier has almost completely stopped the immigration of Africans into Israel across the Sinai border.

According to the Israeli Police report to the Knesset in March 2012, there was a steady increase in crime among the illegal immigrants from 2007. In 2011, 1,200 criminal cases were opened against illegal immigrants from Africa, half of them in the Tel Aviv district. This was an increase of 54% in comparison to the previous year.

On January 6, 2021, the government of Sudan signed the "Abraham Accords Declaration" in Khartoum. On February 2, 2023, Israel and Sudan announced they had finalized an agreement to normalize relations, with the signing to take place after the establishment of a civilian government in Sudan.  United Arab Emirate shows tension  over his leadership and the Sudanese army more broadly.

According to a report, he conveyed al-Burhan’s desire to complete the normalization process between the two countries and formally sign the Abraham Accords, in exchange for Israeli support in the next phase. Now, Sudan seeks help from Israel for military support.  In return, they will join the Abraham Accords.  Do they realize that Israel is fighting against 7 fronts and is a little busy right now?  They seems to have their hands full, like Sudan.                

                                    Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

Al-Sadiq Ismail, envoy of military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, offers to finalize Abraham Accords and address Iran outreach tensions in exchange with aid in fight against rebel militias.  

Sudan was visited by Jews in remote times.  In 1885, the Mahdi compelled all Jews and Christians to embrace Islam, which was a forced conversion if carried out.  The community dated from the end of the 19th century, but few Jews now live there.  

A civil war between two major rival factions of the military government of Sudan began during Ramadan on 15 April 2023. The two opponent factions consist of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies (collectively the Janjaweed coalition) under the Janjaweed leader Hemedti.

                                                                   

Minor factions have also participated in the fighting, allying with either major combatant or remaining opposed to both; these include the Darfur Joint Protection Force; the SLM (al-Nur) under Abdul Wahid al-Nur; and the SPLM-N under Abdelaziz al-Hilu. Fighting has been concentrated around the capital city of Khartoum (the largest and initial battle of the war) and the Darfur region. 

South Sudan’s political landscape is fragile and recent violence between government troops and armed opposition groups has escalated tensions. Last week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged regional and international leaders to prevent South Sudan from falling “over the abyss” into another civil war. Guterres warned that the world’s newest and one of its poorest countries is facing “a security emergency” with intensifying clashes and a “political upheaval” culminating with last week’s arrest by the government of First Vice President Riek Machar.            

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stands with Sudanese Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the head of the ruling sovereign council, in Khartoum, Sudan, August 25, 2020. (Sudanese Cabinet via AP) Donald Trump was then president.  

Here it is, plain and simple: 

 On October 23, 2020, Israel and Sudan agreed to normalize ties; 

 On January 6, 2021, the government of Sudan signed the "Abraham Accords Declaration" in Khartoum.

The agreement is unratified as of 2024. As part of the agreement, the US removed Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and gave them a US$1.2 billion loan.

Frankly, I would not take this new offer.  It would be wonderful to have an additional Muslim country belong to the Abraham Accords, but this is not the time to take on more fighting.  Israel has enough, thank you.  Anyway, anyone joining the Accords should be deeply enthusiastic about the whole idea. 

I would hope, of joining in peace a Muslim country with the remaining and only Jewish country of Israel who kept a record of their people and their 12 tribes along with their own records in the Torah. It even includes why we split up before the religions were defined with the family spat that became so serious.   UAE has been a good member of the Abraham Accords and has worked well with Israel.  

Resource:

israelAM: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_immigration_to_Israel

https://www.standwithus.com/theabrahamaccords?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADCjkXxtPU3kRABYzATlxG3CzZtwj&gclid=CjwKCAjwtdi_BhACEiwA97y8BEhfJF_r6U7U8RcIc47mYxVQb6af6SsQqg_22OXyKgsYrmxjgbGZ_xoCJZEQAvD_BwE

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjvbwufckg?utm_source=email

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Accords#:~:text=denied%20any%20wrongdoing.-,On%20January%206%2C%202021%2C%20the%20government%20of%20Sudan%20signed%20the,a%20civilian%20government%20in%20Sudan.

Israel's Trade Deficit With USA

 Nadene Goldfoot                                     

I believe it was a Zim ship that brought my things over from the USA to Israel in 1980-not a part of trading, but not sure.  

Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived in Washington yesterday, where he met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick and trade representative Greer to discuss the 17% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Israeli exports to the United States. Netanyahu will meet with President Trump at the White House today.

Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington speaking with President Donald Trump.  The president's decision to levy tariffs on friends and foes alike is not only roiling the markets, but setting the United States' relationships with traditional allies on unsure footing. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the old U.S.-Canada relationship is "over" and Canada will need to "dramatically reduce" its reliance on the U.S. 

However, Israel's Netanyahu is taking a different approach  though the U.S. is set to impose 17% tariffs on imports from Israel, effective Wednesday. This is Monday.  Other nations, too, are scrambling to try to reverse Mr. Trump's tariffs.  Netanyahu said he told Mr. Trump that Israel would soon address his country's trade deficit with the U.S."I can tell you that I said to the president, a very simple thing — we will eliminate the trade deficit with the United States," Netanyahu said. "We intend to do it very quickly. We think it's the right thing to do. And we're also going to eliminate trade barriers."

In 2022, of $14.2 billion in U.S. exports to Israel, the top commodity sectors were Stone, Glass, Metals, Pearls (28.0% of the total exports to the country), Machinery and Mechanical Appliances (27.1% of such total), and Chemicals, Plastics, Rubber, Leather Goods (12.7% of such total).

The trade deficit was $7.2 billion, increasing 24.1% ($1.4 billion) from 2021. In 2022, the level of U.S. exports to Israel and U.S. imports from Israel in goods, merchandise, and commodities as well as the trade deficit with Israel all exceeded the prior five-year average level by value (not adjusted for inflation).  I wrote another article telling what USA imports from   Israel. 

The rate of 17% was calculated by using the U.S. trade deficit with Israel of $7 billion (Israeli exports to the U.S. total $20 billion, Israeli imports from the U.S. total $13 billion per year).

All this was quite a surprise to Israel !  

Besides food, the USA imports from Israel a variety of goods, including precious metals and stones (like diamonds), pharmaceuticals, electrical machinery, optical and medical instruments, and machinery and mechanical appliances. 

Here's what USA imports from Israel: Foods  

Matzos:  Aviv, Passover Matzos, baked and packed in Benei-Brak, Israel, kosher for Passover, at Safeway.  1 sheet is 120 calories.  

• Snack Foods: Israeli snack foods like "Bissli" (a type of crispy snack) are popular. 
• Processed Fruits and Vegetables: Israel exports processed fruits and vegetables, including fruit juices, and prepared or preserved tomatoes. 
• Wine and Beer: Israeli wines and beers are also exported to the U.S. 
• Planting Seeds: Israel is a significant exporter of planting seeds. 
• Tree Nuts: Tree nuts are another important agricultural export from Israel to the U.S. 
• Other foods:                                         
  
  
  
• Avocados: In 2023, avocado was the leading agricultural export commodity in Israel, in terms of  purchase Israeli oranges, particularly the "Jaffa" brand, at major grocery stores, international markets, and online retailers like Costco and Instacart.  
• Za'atar: A popular spice blend of hyssop and sesame seeds. 
• Tahini Paste: Al Arz Tahini Paste, which was recently voted as the best Tahini in Israel. 
• Olive Oil: Eliad Olive Oil, housed on rich basalt lands in the northern Holy Land. 
• Honey: Honey products are also exported. 
• Teas: Wissotzky teas, such as green tea with lemongrass and ginger, black mint tea, and masala chai. 
• Coffee: Elite instant coffee and mocha coffee. 
• Cookies: Abadi Delicious Middle Eastern Cookies. 
• Other: Gift boxes containing various Israeli food items are also shipped.

Prime Minister Netanyahu met with President Trump in the White House yesterday. He wasn't successful, at least for now, to get the 17% tariff on Israeli exports to the U.S. removed. Netanyahu pledged to remove all tariffs and other trade barriers on US exports to Israel. According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2024, Israeli exports of goods to the US (including diamonds) were worth $17.2 billion, while imports from the US were worth $9.2 billion. Israel's trade surplus with the US is the largest it has with any country. With China, Israel had a trade deficit in goods in 2024 of $10.8 billion. Israel already had removed all tariffs on U.S. imports prior to Netanyahu's visit, but that didn't help remove the 17% tariff on Israeli goods. In its interest rate announcement yesterday, the Bank of Israel stated: "Exports of goods to the US, which constitute about 13% of total exports of goods and services, will be significantly affected by the tariffs imposed by the US government, and in addition, the other export components will be adversely affected by the damage to world trade."

• Resource:
• israelAM
• https://allisrael.com/israel-shocked-after-trump-slaps-17-tariff-on-israeli-imports
• -finance-ministry-to-analyze-implications
•  https://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2025/04/israeli-beer-wines-and-more-exported.html
• https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/technology-evaluation/ote

Karoline Leavitt, Newbie On The Job Of Fact-Telling

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

28 year old Karoline Claire Leavitt (born August 24, 1997) is an American political aide and government official who has been serving as the 36th White House press secretary in the second Trump administration since January 2025. Leavitt was a presidential writer and assistant press secretary during the first Trump administration.   Karoline Claire Leavitt was raised Roman Catholic , born in Atkinson, New Hampshire.  Leavitt credits her Catholic schooling for instilling pro-life values, discipline, and the importance of public service.

Karoline's surname of Leavitt is also a Russian-Jewish surname.  I thought she was from a Jewish family.  UJ has an article on a teacher, Ezekiel Leavitt, born in 1880 in Russia.  He could be an ancestor.  

She has a bad attitude towards Israel, however,  bad since she's working for Trump who is backing the small country.   Leavitt delivered her first White House press conference on January 28, 2025. 

During the press conference, Leavitt falsely stated that "there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza". Leavitt's claim was shared on social media and repeated by Trump.  Who gave her such nonsense to relay on air that she swallowed hook, line and sinker ?  In her position, she should be most careful of what she repeats that she hears without first checking it.  Condoms?  Really??? Duh!!!!!

 PolitiFact stated about the incident that "[t]here is no evidence that the U.S. earmarked $50 million in condoms to Gaza, or that it has recently spent $50 million on condoms in Gaza" and that while a State Department spokesperson said the government "stopped $100 million in funding to Gaza which included money for contraception", PolitiFact could not confirm that information.

On January 29, 2025, a federal judge cited Leavitt's tweets in his decision regarding a restraining order related to President Trump's attempted federal funding freeze.                    

She's succeeded  the position of  50 year old Karine Jean-Pierre, born August 13, 1974,  French-born American political advisor who served as the White House press secretary from May 2022 to January 2025, and a senior advisor to President Joe Biden from October 2024 to January 2025.  

 On March 26, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made a statement regarding the United States government group chat leak that inadvertently included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Leavitt questioned the credibility of Goldberg's reporting, referring to him as an "anti-Trump hater" and a "registered Democrat". She contrasted Goldberg's reliability with that of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, implying that the public should trust the administration's account over that of a journalist she characterized as biased. This statement came in response to The Atlantic's publication of screenshots of the group chat discussion on U.S. military plans for airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Leavitt's comments sparked debate about journalistic integrity, government transparency, and the handling of classified information in the Trump administration.                                         

                  Whoopi evidently said this on Tic Tok, not on her program of The View.  

TikTok is a social media platform for creating, sharing and discovering short videos. The app is used by young people as an outlet to express themselves through singing, dancing, comedy, and lip-syncing, and allows users to create videos and share them across a community. Whoopie must be using it because many of her followers are so young.  

Being 90, I didn't remember the meaning of wokeness, so:  Woke is an adjective derived from African-American English used since the 1930s or earlier to refer to awareness of racial prejudice and discrimination, often in the construction stay woke. The term acquired political connotations by the 1970s and gained further popularity in the 2010s with the hashtag #staywoke.                               For the Press Secretary, Karoline certainly is opinionated for a 28 year old womanon her first important  job. But her job is to relate facts, not her own opinions.   

Leavitt has never appeared on “The View,” according to the Internet Movie Database. Information about problems with Whoopie Goldberg is an example of false reporting, according to new facts coming out. 

Whoopi Goldberg was born on November 13, 1955 and is 70 years old.  

                                                

The View's panel (L-R: Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck) interview Barack Obama on July 29, 2010, 

Most people won't remember Whoopi this far back when Whoopi was 55.  On September 4, 2007, Goldberg became the new moderator and co-host of The View, replacing Rosie O'Donnell. Goldberg's debut as moderator drew 3.4 million viewers, 1 million fewer than O'Donnell's debut ratings. However, after 2 weeks, The View was averaging 3.5 million total viewers under Goldberg, a 7-percent increase from 3.3 million under O'Donnell the previous season.  

Whoopi Goldberg's recent absence from "The View" is due to a two-week suspension by ABC News, following criticism for her comments about the Holocaust.  This I can't believe, and want to see a replay of this.  Whoopie has thought of herself as being Jewish.  Look at her surname, Goldberg !  She's the last person to say anything detrimental about Jews and the Holocaust.  She has many Jewish friends due to her profession.  Now she knows that according to DNA, she does not have a Jewish personal connection.  Researcher Henry Louis Gates Jr. found that all of Goldberg's traceable ancestors were black, that she had no known German or Jewish ancestry, and that none of her ancestors were named  Goldberg.  However, she gets credit for not having changed her surname.  She's taken allthe sticks and stones thrown at Blacks AND Jews because of this choice of hers." SShe's like the Danes, who wore the star of David during the Holocaust, saying that they were all Jewish!!!

Here's a more detailed explanation" thought to be reasons:

• Suspension: On Tuesday, April 6, 2025, ABC News announced a two-week suspension for Whoopi Goldberg from "The View". Reason given was NOT Karoline Leavitt !  Reason for Suspension: The suspension came after Goldberg drew significant criticism for stating that the Holocaust was "not about race". Context: Goldberg's comments were made during a discussion on the show, and they were widely condemned as inaccurate and insensitive. Past Absences: While this suspension is a new development, Goldberg has been absent from the show previously due to COVID-19. Other Absences: In the past, she has also been absent due to illness or other commitments. Examples of Other Absences: For example, in February 2025, she was absent due to the flu. Upcoming Projects: Goldberg has also been absent for work commitments, including being in Paris for a project.  

I admire and even love Whoopi !  If she said anything nasty about Jews or the Holocaust, it would break my heart.  That would mean that ALL people deserving of my respect and admiration are anti-Semites at heart.  What a horrid thought.   

 Resource:

https://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2025/03/sponsors-wanting-to-fire-whoopie-and.html

wrote this first when all came up;  surprised myself when it was talked about again.....

Finding Our Fathers, a guidebook to Jewish Genealogy by Dan Rottenberg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whoopi_Goldberg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karoline_Leavitt

https://www.aol.com/fact-check-did-whoopi-goldberg-171733962.html