Views

memory. And yet, here we are, 
and here we will remain. This 
moment in history will surely be 
no different. We will prevail.

A LANDMARK AGREEMENT
Many of us were not yet alive in 
1978, or can hardly remember, 
when the first signing of a peace 
deal between Israel and one of 
its 19 Arab neighbors, Egypt, 
sent shockwaves through the 
Middle East. It took 16 years 
until another of Israel’
s neigh-
bors, Jordan, followed suit. Now, 
26 years later, we have arrived 
at another historic crossroads. 
A few weeks ago, Israel and 
the United Arab Emirates 
announced they would be nor-
malizing relations, followed 
soon after by Bahrain.
This landmark agreement, 
most significantly, does not 
come at the expense of the 
Palestinians, but in fact presents 
them with a unique opportunity 
to return to direct negotiations 
with Israel. Israel is ready to do 
so and will come to the negoti-
ating table with the principles of 
the American administration’
s 
peace initiative.

The peace deal provides a 
practical and realistic basis upon 
which the two sides can begin 
negotiations. In the light of the 
Abraham Accords, achieving a 
lasting resolution between Israel 
and the Palestinians now seems 
that much more attainable.
The Accords represent an 
alternative and paradigm-shift-
ing step forward for the region. 

They have fostered a revolution-
ary opportunity for other Arab 
nations to establish formal ties 
with the State of Israel, a concept 
previously deemed far-fetched 
and impossible. It provides a 
striking alternative to those 

radical forces who oppose peace 
and prefer to perpetuate conflict 
until victory is won instead of 
resolving conflict in a peaceful 
manner and reaping the benefits 
that cooperation can provide. 
Moreover, the agreement effec-
tively strengthens the power 
of moderatism in the face of 
the extremism that Iran and its 
proxies sow across the region.

Ultimately, the Accords rep-
resent an alignment of values. 
Israel, the UAE and Bahrain are 
all facing the shared challenges 
of climate change, diminishing 
resources and, most pertinently, 
disease. It is essential that we 

focus on agreement over dis-
agreement and combine our 
capabilities for the well-being of 
our citizens.
This is exactly what the agree-
ment has achieved. The Accords 
should be the guiding light for 
all other nations in the region 
of the good that can come from 
making peace with Israel.
While to many these events 
transpired relatively unnoticed, 
they represent another seismic 
shift in Israel’
s status among its 
neighbors. People may point 
out that Israel was not in a state 
of war with either country, so 
what’
s the big deal?
But it is a big deal. Israel’
s 
neighbors have begun to recog-
nize that peace with Israel is the 
road to success. They see that 
their economic futures will be 
better off by forging long-lasting 
ties with a small and mighty 
nation than by denying the fact 
of its existence.
They have begun to recognize 
what we, as Jews, have known 
for millennia: We Will Prevail. 

Aviv Ezra is consul general of Israel to 

the Midwest.

WE WILL PREVAIL IN PEACE from page 5

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