Posted on 09/18/2022 5:22:25 AM PDT by bert
Two years after the signing of the Abraham Accords, UAE-Israel relations are flourishing. A series of recent high-level meetings and events illustrate how the countries are forging ahead, showcasing that the agreements signed two years ago weren’t a hollow PR stunt.
The importance reaches far beyond the two countries, to Israel’s ties to India; as well as peace with Morocco, Bahrain and other countries.
President Isaac Herzog attended the UAE Embassy reception celebrating the two-year anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords last Thursday in Herzliya. The event showcased how the Accords have brought together people from the region and helped create an atmosphere of peace, hope and prosperity.
The event was hosted by the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Israel, Mohammed Al Khaja, and was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
In his speech, Herzog praised the UAE’s leadership, calling Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed “a man of peace.” Herzog made many points that were likely shared by those attending and which symbolize the larger context in the region.
“The signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020 was a very moving occasion. It was moving because of the great potential that we wished to see in the accords, and because of the vision, we were praying for, for the State of Israel and for all nations in the region.
Witnessing that moment of historic importance, we hoped and prayed that this moment would provide us a path to the future to which we aspire: a future of partnership and prosperity, of renewal and peace,” Herzog said.
He highlighted the important work of the last two years. He also mentioned other peace partners, such as Egypt and Jordan. “On behalf of us all, I hope that we shall see more and more groundbreaking accords, including with our close neighbors, the Palestinians, and that the historic process, gaining unimaginable momentum, of Israel’s integration into this region will continue, layer upon layer,” he said.
UAE delegation visits Israel Bin Zayed’s delegation to Israel last week included top UAE economic and tourism ministers and officials, a testament to the importance the country gives to the Accords, and proof that economic ties and sustainability issues were on the agenda.
During the Thursday speech, Herzog also praised the exciting leap in cooperative ventures between Israel and Morocco. His speech came during a week when the Israel Defense Forces had hosted an International Operational Innovation Conference for the first time in history.
“The conference included the participation of Chiefs of Staff and commanders from dozens of militaries from around the world. The conference constituted a significant platform for strengthening the operational cooperation between the participating countries, while also providing an opportunity for intra-military learning. Approximately 3,000 IDF commanders participated in the week-long conference and transferred its contents to their soldiers,” the IDF said.
Significantly, seven chiefs of staff from Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Poland and the United States attended the event; and there were 24 military delegations from around the world. Attendees examined multi-dimensional live fire exercises and the simulation also emphasized innovation in the modern battlefield, the IDF said.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz was expected to meet UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on Sunday. Last week Prime Minister Yair Lapid met Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Meanwhile, Herzog is also expected to visit Bahrain in the coming months as a guest of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The wheels are in motion in the region, all emanating from the Abraham Accords. The trend in UAE-Israel ties is clear.
Partnerships between Israel and the Gulf A recent free trade deal came as bilateral trade has exceeded $600 million, according to reports in April. An important summit that links Israel, the UAE, India and the US, the I2US summit, took place in July. This is also an important trend; knitting together countries such as Israel and the UAE as part of a wider partnership with the US and India.
These are one of many partnerships that are linking Israel and the Gulf and they clearly showcase how much the Gulf states and Israel have to share with each other. This is because in a shifting world order these countries have much in common. They also have similar partners in places like Greece and France; and ties to places like the UK.
As part of a strategic system that stretches from Australia to Europe, important stops like Tel Aviv and Dubai are clearly on the map and it makes sense that they work together.
As such they are strong than the sum of their parts; meaning together Israel and the UAE and partners such as Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan, the US and India become stronger exponentially through the Abraham Accords.
In addition, business and innovation partnerships continue to grow. In early September the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Abu Dhabi’s leading international financial center, and Tel Aviv-based non-profit organization Start-Up Nation Central announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance collaborations between the innovation ecosystems of Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
The US is expanding with various goals for its economy in 2050. It is innovating in projects such as work on climate change, transportation infrastructure, healthcare, and space exploration, according to recent reports of the UAE’s emphasis on new technologies. Much of this ties in with Israel’s own successes.
The UAE’s success is also linked to partnerships with Saudi Arabia. There continues to be hope regarding potential Israel-Saudi ties. An article at Bloomberg noted recently that the Kingdom and Israel are obviously no longer enemies, but not friends.
Another article at INSS in Israel described the process as normalization at a snail’s pace. There is a lot of hope in this regard. In July Saudi Arabia ended an airspace ban and there is much else to be optimistic about.
Despite the many positive developments that have occurred in the last two years, there are still hurdles and challenges for the countries involved in the Abraham Accords.
Some of the expectations were not met on both sides. In addition, the business culture of Israel and the UAE are not the same. Travel issues, such as tourism going both ways, is also an issue; with Israelis going to the Gulf but apparently, fewer visits the other way around.
In terms of security in the region and partnership with US Central Command, there are questions about incorporating Israel into more joint drills in the Red Sea with the Combined Maritime Forces of 34 countries that partner with the US. The recent launch of Combined Task Force 153 is important because it is multinational and focuses on the Red Sea.
Despite those challenges, the fruits of the Abraham Accords are apparent - not only in the banquet halls celebrating its second anniversary – but on the ground.
As a result of this foundational agreement, other agreements binding the various players in the region into a compoaite mass that changes the world.
At the front of those new agreements is the Negev Summit that in effect added the Arab countries into trade and military coalition that contains Iran.
The article does not Menion the man who made the initiative to get the initial effort together. That man is American President Donald Trump. The Abrams Accord is at the very top of his long list of accomplishments
It also does not mention the Palestinians. The Abrams accord and subsequent actions effectively ended the ongoing farce of Palestinian Peace Accords. The Arabs abandoned the Palestinians to sink or swim on their own
We must say Thank You President Trump
“The signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020 was a very moving occasion. It was moving because of the great potential that we wished to see in the accords, and because of the vision, we were praying for, for the State of Israel and for all nations in the region."
This, “in effect added the Arab countries into trade and military coalition that contains Iran”
gives the impression that Iran is included when it is really isolated.
One of the best things Trump did as President. Truly historic.
As a political outsider, Trump looked at problems to find solutions without the baggage of complex political relationships. He looked at the Middle East and realized that pandering to the spoiled children of Palestine were the roadblock preventing peace. Solution: by pass the Palestinians and make peace without placating them, which is impossible in any event. He looked at the economy and saw that the government and its bureaucracies were choking out prosperity. Solution: neutralize the interference and get out the market’s way. He did a lot of good but also made a lot of enemies, who are the elites who are doing everything in their power to destroy him. If he loses, we lose.
President Trump thinks on another level.
——This, “in effect added the Arab countries into trade and military coalition that contains Iran”——
Ok, I’ll revise to eliminate the ambiguity.
This, “in effect added the Arab countries into trade and military coalition that isolates and defends against Iran”
Yet, Trump manages to get a number of Arab nations to sign on to the Abraham Accords and start normal relations and trade with Israel, which the signatories uphold to this day. There are currently other Arab nations looking to join. This was the biggest step forward for peace in the Middle East. Yet, President Trump wasn't even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The above tells you all you have to know about this so-coveted Peace Prize.
Then of course, there is Obama who got the same Peace Prize just for being in office for so many days. Pfft.
It was his Jewish son-in-law who did the thinking. The Trumpster just nodded approval.
Let’s see how much more, Biden is going to f##k up...
Nah, I don’t agree.
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