Sudan says Israel will remain eternal enemy despite reports of Netanyahu visit

The Sudanese minister of information has slammed reports that the Israeli prime minister will visit Khartoum, saying hostility against Tel Aviv will last until "the end of days".

Bishara Jumaa made the remarks at a conference in the Sudanese capital, Al-Jazeera  reported on Tuesday.

"The religious and ideological hostility between Sudan and Israel will continue until the hour of judgement," Jumaa was quoted as saying.

The Israel Broadcasting Corporation's Arabic-language service reported on Monday that Netanyahu was planning on visiting Sudan and that Israeli officials were attempting to forge relations with the African Arab country.

The leader of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party, Abdel Sakhi Abbas, has also rebutted the claim.

"[Netanyahu] cannot visit Sudan. There has been no discussion about this visit among official Sudanese circles," Abbas said.

The developments come after Binyamin Netanyahu met with Chadian President Idriss Deby in a Jerusalem.

Netanyahu's Bureau announced on Tuesday that he will soon visit Muslim-majority Chad to establish diplomatic ties.

Israel's Channel 10 reported that Israel is currently making efforts to establish relations with Bahrain and Muslim states in Africa.

Netanyahu made a surprise visit to the Gulf sultanate of Oman last month - the first in more than 20 years by an Israeli premier.

The surprise meeting with Oman's Sultan Qaboos was kept secret until Netanyahu's return home. It took place despite the two nations having no diplomatic ties.

Following Netanyahu's visit, Israeli ministers visited the UAE and Oman.

Israel currently has full diplomatic relations with only Egypt and Jordan, but the trips are the latest sign of growing regional ties between Israel and Arab states.

Israel and some Gulf states - notably Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain - have a shared interest in curbing Iran's influence in the region and cooperate on intelligence gathering.

The Palestinian Authority is seeking emergency sessions of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation amid worries of growing ties between Israel and Arab states.