Abraham Accords: A summary

The Abraham Accords are a series of conciliatory agreements aimed at establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab nations.

The Abraham Accords, facilitated by the United States, provide the first step to positive relations between Israel and Arab states since the 1979 agreement with Egypt and the 1994 agreement with Jordan.

The initial agreements, signed in 2020, involved the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, then later with Morocco and Sudan – though Sudan’s agreement remains unratified.

The basic aim of the Abraham Accords (named after Abraham, revered as the patriarch to three key faiths: Islam, Judaism and Christianity) was to initiate a new era of co-operation in the region: in short, stop fighting in favour of collaborating in mutually beneficial projects allowing nations to profit culturally and financially from technology, trade and tourism.

Saudi Arabia and Syria have openly expressed keen interest in the Abraham Accords, and others privately. For the first time in living memory, peace in the Middle East seems within the world’s grasp.

History is important. It is the road to the present and shapes viewpoints of decision-makers and populations – and there is no shortage of versions of history to be found. Accordists must be very aware of different perspectives while preferring to focus on the present and the future, respectfully prioritising brighter lives and future prosperity over a swamp of dark historical grievance.

Accordists do offer a platform for personal perspectives.