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The Fruit That the Abraham Accords Can Yield Is Almost Endless
Then-US President Donald Trump, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the signing of the Abraham Accords in Washington, Sept. 15, 2020. (Shealah Craighead/White House)

The Fruit That the Abraham Accords Can Yield Is Almost Endless

Maariv, Israel, September 19

“Anyone who doesn’t believe in miracles is not a realist,” said David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of the State of Israel. Indeed, after more than seven decades in which the most respectable advisers and statesmen around the world tried to bring about a breakthrough in the Israeli-Arab conflict to no avail, a year ago, former US President Trump and former Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu achieved the coveted breakthrough and did what Ben-Gurion would have described as a “miracle”: They brought about peace. This miracle, in the form of the official establishment of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, paved the way for the transformation of the State of Israel from a persona non grata to a legitimate and worthy partner in the Middle East. Overnight, we transitioned from being the mistress to becoming the lawful wife. Not everyone likes it, but the marriage was done legally. The leadership that the rulers of the UAE have demonstrated in their quest to become the first and leading force in every field, including creating a warm model of peace and normalization with Israel, is astonishing and notable for its courage and vision. Thanks to its ambition, the UAE leadership was also able to add value to its people by including the F-35 fighter jets in its military arsenal. It has also opened up a wide range of opportunities for technological, medical, scientific, economic, and business cooperation with Israeli experts. Unlike Egypt and Jordan, the UAE is the first to break the walls of the Arab psychological boycott of Israel, while turning a new page in the Arab world’s relations with Israel. As co-chair of the Knesset’s Committee on the Promotion of the Abraham Accords, together with member of the opposition, Likud MK Ofir Akunis, it is an honor for me to create a first-of-its-kind platform in the Israeli legislature, which aims to encourage discussion about the endless possibilities of strengthening these accords. There is a matter of importance in the very creation and existence of such a platform. Moreover, I would like this prestigious platform to serve as a breeding ground for new ideas and initiatives revolving around the Abraham Accords, in a way that will deepen and enhance cooperation between Israel and its neighbors. The very fact that I, a member of the Blue and White Party, am co-chairing this venture with an opposition member, is evidence that this is not a matter of left or right. The opposite is true: This is proof that these peace agreements transcend controversy and political differences, and provide us with an unprecedented opportunity to deal with regional challenges. One such challenge is the Iranian nuclear deal, which is troubling to Israel and Gulf states alike. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic, which doesn’t recognize geographical and religious boundaries, illuminates the rifts and controversies in the world in a slightly absurd light. This is because disasters and challenges require creative solutions, regional collaboration, out-of-the-box thinking, and unpredictable partnerships. All of these are now possible thanks to the Abraham Accords. Finally, the quest to find a solution to the ecological catastrophe that threatens humanity renders all controversies based on religion, geography, territory, and ethnic origin completely meaningless. Capital investments in green technology and renewable energy entail significant benefits for everyone, investors and scientists alike, and of course for all of humanity. Thus, I also believe that the Abraham Accords will pave the way to the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The same conflict, which today seems unresolved, will become, in my view, resolvable. Not because the Palestinians will become Zionists and not because of the disintegration of settlements in the West Bank but rather out of the human need to unite and to deal with threats greater than ours. The framework called the Abraham Accords set a wonderful precedent. Now is the time to continue building additional unexpected coalitions. –Ruth Wasserman Lande, member of the Israeli parliament (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)

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