10 | OCTOBER 13 • 2022 

W

ith the two-year 
anniversary last 
month, the historic 
signing of the Abraham 
Accords ushered in a new 
era in the Middle East. The 
normalization agreements 
established first between Israel 
and the United Arab Emirates 
and Bahrain, then later a 
renewal in ties with Morocco, 
have led to new opportunities 
in the Middle East. People-
to-people exchanges, business 
partnerships and government 
agreements have all led to 
investment and growth.
Among the notable 
agreements stemming from the 
Accords signed to date:
Landmark Defense 
Memorandum of Under-
standing between Israel and 
Morocco in November 2021, 
the first ever between Israel 
and an Arab state.
In February 2022, Israel 
and Bahrain inked a security 
agreement.
Israel and the United Arab 
Emirates signed a historic free-
trade agreement in May 2022, 
which both sides hope will 
expand to $10 billion in trade 
annually in the next five years.
Given this success, what is 
next for the Abraham Accords? 
Could other countries in the 
region, such as Saudi Arabia, 
be next? Can the Abraham 
Accords be a model of success 
globally?
At AJC Global Forum 2022, 
Israeli Ambassador to the 
U.N. Gilad Erdan, Bahraini 
Ambassador to the U.N. Jamal 
Fares Alrowaiei, Moroccan 

Ambassador to the U.N. 
Omar Hilale, and United 
Arab Emirates Ambassador 
to the U.N. Lana Nusseibeh 
discussed the benefits of the 
Abraham Accords and what 
they envision will be needed 
to expand the breakthrough 
agreements. 

U.S. LEADERSHIP IS KEY
The signing of the normal-
ization agreements with the 
UAE and Bahrain in September 
2020 on a picture-perfect day 
on the White House lawn was 
touted as a major foreign policy 
success for the United States.
Speaking of the U.S. role 
in facilitating the agreement, 
Israeli Ambassador Erdan said 
“the fact that we had a very 
committed administration that 
conveyed a clear message” in 
support of the Jewish State and 
the dynamics in the Middle 
East was important.
According to Bahraini 
Ambassador Alrowaiei, the U.S. 
role is necessary going forward.
“The U.S. as a strategic 
partner is at the forefront,
” 
he said. “The U.S. has an 

important role in the efforts … 
as we work collectively on the 
historic Abraham Accords.
”
For Morocco, which signed 
its agreement to normalize 
relations with Israel in 
December 2020, it was a 
renewal and upgrading of 
previous ties, which had been 
established during the 1990s.
Moroccan Ambassador 
Hilale said that “we need a 
more proactive role of the 
United States” in helping to 
secure future cooperation in 
the region. 
Since taking office, the Biden 
administration has continued 
to support and work to expand 
the benefits of the Abraham 
Accords, established joint 
teams with partner countries 
and identified potential new 
countries, Erdan said.
In March, foreign ministers 
of the Abraham Accords 
countries and Egypt, along 
with the U.S. Secretary of State, 
held the Negev Summit in 
Israel to further expand ties. 
They initiated a process that 
will lead to regular multilateral 
regional consultations and 

working groups.
UAE Ambassador Nusseibeh 
lauded Secretary of State 
Antony Blinken’s participation 
in the Negev Summit and 
welcomed further U.S. action.
“The primary view is 
continued U.S. engagement,
” 
she said. “The U.S. is the 
preferred partner for this 
region. It is a long-standing 
partner.
”

SAUDI ARABIA’S 
‘DOMINO EFFECT’
Earlier this year, in an 
interview with The Atlantic, 
Crown Prince Mohammed 
bin Salman offered a striking 
reassessment of relations 
between Saudi Arabia and 
Israel, saying, “We do not view 
Israel as an enemy, but rather 
as a potential ally.
”
Indeed, reports of 
clandestine contact between 
Israel and the Saudis have 
surfaced in recent years as 
both countries face a common 
security threat from Iran 
as well as an interest in the 
stability of the Middle East 
region.

UNITED HATZALAH

analysis

What Are the Next Steps 
to Expand the Abraham Accords?

PURELY COMMENTARY

AJC GLOBAL VOICE

At the AJC Global 
Forum 2022

