This week marks two years since the singing of the Abraham Accords, the peace deal brokered by the Trump While House, bringing Israel and some of its Arab neighbors together through economic prosperity.
Here are 5 things you need to know
1. Economic Strengthening
The deal has brought a long list of economic benefits, both private and public, to Israel and its neighboring Arab states including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and later Morocco and Sudan. Since the countries normalized relations, Israeli companies have met with Arab entrepreneurs in pursuit of learning and collaborating with trade agreements related to energy, technology, irrigation, agriculture, insurance and more.
2. Military Strength
With the Islamic Republic of Iran and its terrorist proxies increasing their military capabilities, Israel and its new allies now have strong intelligence capabilities and shared military technology like missiles, air defense systems, and drones. Israel and its Arab allies have engaged in security operations exercises in the Red Sea to send a clear message to Iran’s regime that the new alliance will stand united. As Iran’s regime continues to threaten its Arab neighbors, Israel has stepped up to provide training and guidance to Arab military forces. Most recently, Israel and its Arab allies have focused on strengthening their aerial capabilities for the possibility of a preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
3. United Against Antisemitism
For the past two years, Arab countries that were once openly hostile and antisemitic towards Israel have engaged in efforts to combat antisemitism. Arab leaders in Morocco, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates have begun to include the history of the Holocaust in school curricula, to hold planned conferences with Holocaust survivors, and to even visit Israel’s holocaust museum, Yad Vashem, to commemorate the anniversary of the Holocaust. Arab leaders condemned attacks from Palestinian terrorists against Israelis, vowing to halt any investments if attacks continue. Similarly, for the past two years, Arab leaders have started to condemn anti-Zionist sentiments among their citizens, defending Israel’s right to exist.
4. United Against Iran
With the Islamic Republic of Iran increasing its support for terrorism in the Middle East and advancing its nuclear program without delay, Israel and its Arab allies have significantly strengthened their defense capabilities against the Islamic regime. Moderate Arab leaders have joined Israel in persuading the U.S. not to sign an agreement with Iran’s regime. Arab and Israeli officials have called on the Biden administration to enact a maximum pressure campaign, calling for sanctions. Over the past few months, these nations have begun to share intelligence concerning Iran and its nuclear program, providing Washington officials with information on nuclear activity.
5. More Alliances
With Israel and its new Arab allies expanding and growing in the economic and military sectors, other Arab states like Saudi Arabia have shown interest in normalizing ties with Israel. In the past few months, the Saudi government has allowed Israeli commercial planes to fly into Saudi airspace, something that many say is a result of the Abraham Accords. The signatories of the Abraham Accords are pushing for a number of more moderate Arab states to join them.
