D I P L O M AT I C A| DIPLOMATIC AGENDA
The value of the Abraham Accords and Jordan have of investments in the Emirates coupled withstood the test with Israeli innovations will create countFIR of time and are less opportunities for economic co-operaoneta rm Se integral to stabil- tion. From just September 2020 to January E: M NA LAST ity and security 2021, 130,000 Israelis travelled to the UAE, i Israel CITIZENSHIP: i n t h e re g i o n . eager to experience Emirati culture. The D’AFFAIRES: GÉ AR The Israel-Egypt upcoming World Expo, set to be hosted in CH NAMED AS p e a c e a g r e e - Dubai in October 2021, promises another 21 20 , Feb. 17 ment emerged opportunity to bring together Israelis and a, bi m lo SITIONS: Co PREVIOUS PO out of the Camp Emiratis. n, pa Ja , public David Accords The Abraham Accords have positively Dominican Re ), ns (New York and ended the impacted cultural exchanges at the local United Natio dia. 30-year war be- level as Emiratis’ desire to experience IsIreland and In tween the two raeli culture and access its markets has alcountries. The ready gained momentum. A new Hebrew peace agreement with Jordan ended the language school that holds classes in four ince Israel’s establishment, the state of war that had existed since 1948 locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi has United States has been a steadfast and settled land and water disputes. been overwhelmed by Emiratis wanting to and invaluable ally. Americans and These agreements have transformed the study or conduct business in Israel. Now Israelis are united by their shared values Sinai and Jordan River borders into peace- local chefs in Dubai are preparing kosher and commitment to democracy, peace ful areas and have allowed us to focus on Emirati cuisine and Jewish-Emirati dishes and security. The American administraother security concerns, such as Hamas in to feed Israeli tourists when they visit the tion under the leadership of then-presiGaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. UAE. These examples demonstrate the dent Donald Trump fostered unparalleled The Abraham Accords established the economic and cultural co-operation posopportunities for Israel. By moving its foundation for a warm peace that centres sible between Israel and Arab states. embassy to Jerusalem, the U.S. officially on people-to-people and business-toIn addition, the Abraham Accords are recognized it as Israel’s capital, while the business relations. This type of collabora- conducive to creating a broader front U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords — marktion will help further shared priorities in against Iran, a regime avowedly seeking ing Israel’s first deal with an Arab couneconomic, social and security spheres. Israel’s destruction and Middle Eastern try in 25 years — laid the groundwork for The combination of Israeli technologies disruption. Strong co-operation with modthe normalization of relations between and UAE financial capabilities has the erate Arab states is crucial in containing Israel and several Arab states. potential to create new routes through the Iran through a co-ordinated effort and enFor several decades, the prevailing Middle East’s old roadblocks. The power suring it does not fulfil its bellicose nuclear assumption was that peace with the Palestinians would precede peace with the rest of the Arab world. This put Palestinians in a position to negatively impact, to some extent, the nature of Israeli-Arab relations. The Abraham Accords created a paradigm shift by turning this assumption on its head. In September 2020, joined by UAE and Bahrain’s foreign ministers, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the first deal between Israel and an Arab country in decades. Soon enough, Sudan and Morocco followed suit. In March 2021, the first Emirati ambassador, Muhammad Mahmoud Al Khaja, arrived in Israel. The value of peaceful relations in the Middle East cannot be overstated. The sight of the three leaders signing the Abraham Accords is reminiscent of Israeli leaders shaking hands with their Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts when peace with these countries was established. While Then-Bahraini foreign minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin peace has not been as warm as we would Netanyahu, then-U.S. president Donald Trump and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al expect, Israel’s relationships with Egypt Nahyani take part in the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020.
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OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY JOYCE N. BOGHOSIAN
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