This
week/month marks a
very important milestone for the Middle East and North Africa: three years
since the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, under the auspices of the US government. Three
months later, in December 2020, Morocco joined the process, signing a
normalization agreement with Israel.
The
catalyst that enabled these historic accords was the conscious decision taken
by the parties to promote a stable and prosperous future for the Middle East.
The
agreements have ushered in a new era of normalization and peace that not only connects
governments but also brings people together, despite differences in language,
religious beliefs, cultures and more.
So
far, the Abraham Accords have offered a mere glimpse into the full potential of
regional cooperation. Even so, the scope
of trade between Israel and other Middle Eastern countries increased 74%
between 2021 and 2022. Another example is tourism, mostly
non-existent in the past, which has skyrocketed. In 2021, visits from Israel to
the UAE increased by 172%. Meanwhile, the number of Israelis flying to Bahrain
since the establishment of direct flights has increased exponentially.
The accords have also had a significant influence on
reinforcing Israel's relations with neighboring countries, thereby enhancing
regional stability. For example, the Prosperity Green & Blue agreement between
Israel, the UAE, and Jordan determined that a solar field to supply 600
megawatts of green electricity to Israel will be established in Jordan, while in
return, a desalination plant in Israel will deliver 200 million cubic meters of
water to Jordan.
In
a region where 65% of the population is under 30, providing the younger
generation with opportunities is a key factor in preventing instability. To
that end, youth delegations have been initiated, encouraging bonds between
tomorrow's leaders and laying the foundation for cooperation in the decades to
come. Delegations in which young influencers experience each other's cultures
and visit important religious and historic sites while focusing on community
building are an effective tool in strengthening ties.
Importantly,
the youth of the relevant countries have subscribed wholeheartedly to the
principles of acceptance, cooperation and peace highlighted in the accords, communicating
to the region that these ideals are the building blocks of the future.
The
Abraham Accords encourage collaboration and education. In the summer of 2022,
Ben-Gurion University welcomed students from Morocco. Additionally, a number of
Emirati students have enrolled in Israeli universities. Bahrain has also
embraced the prospects for shared educational activities and signed a number of
agreements with Israel to advance student and professor exchanges.
In
a notable example of how these initiatives can foster mutual understanding,
after Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited the Yad
Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, the UAE incorporated Holocaust
education into its school curriculum as a mandatory subject, attestation to the
ability of the Abraham Accords to foster coexistence and religious tolerance.
The
Abraham Accords have shown unity's power to inspire and provide opportunity. They offer a window into a potential future
of the region and demonstrate that when both leaders and ordinary citizens prioritize
peace and cooperation, a far better future for the Middle East is possible.
Abraham Accords are also a good
opportunity to further collaborate with the EU. In 2023, the EU gave another impetus
on its involvement with a significant role played by the EU Commissioner for
Neighborhood Policy Oliver Varhelyi. Since then, Israel participated in a
trilateral workshop in Rabat with the EU and Morocco financed by the EU, this
workshop will lead to projects in energy project (water, desalination plants,
and wastewater management). Commissioner Varhelyi also allocated 10 million
euros to expand those kinds of activities.
Yet another noteworthy
illustration of the progresses is
the creation of a steering committee in the EU embassy in Tel Aviv which
together with Israel will start new projects with Morocco, Bahrein, the UAE,
the Palestinians, Jordan and Egypt.
Following this new dynamic, the
president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced during an
event for the 75th anniversary of Israel, the launching of the Abraham Accords
network, a new cross-partisan parliamentary alliance to secure EU support for
the Abraham Accords between Israel and neighboring nations.
Israel
hopes that many more countries will join this endeavor, creating a brighter
tomorrow for the sake of all our children.