Within hours of declaring its independence, Israel became one of the first countries to formally recognize the Republic of South Sudan. This comes as no surprise given the history of aid provided to Southern Sudanese fighters by the Israeli government. Since the 1960s, Israel has provided infrastructural, financial and military support to southern
Israel Strengthens Alliance with South Sudan as Middle East Allies Falter
As long as the polarizing periphery doctrine exists, the newly independent South Sudan has no choice but to give Israel access to its resources.