By The Israel Embassy—
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brother of the crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed, and Foreign Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, signed the Abraham Accords at the White House.
The Abraham Accords, brokered by President Trump and his administration, will establish full diplomatic relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
This historic moment comes after extensive work on the part of the Trump Administration, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, and King Hamad bin Salman al-Khalifa. The Abraham Accords Peace Declaration with Bahrain came less than a month after UAE officials announced their intention to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.
The agreements represent an important and significant milestone that will advance security and stability across the Middle East region. This will hopefully facilitate similar agreements with other Arab countries and create a future of peace and prosperity that will last for generations.
Through the normalization of our relationship, we are not only striving for peace, but are taking concrete steps to ensure a fruitful and peaceful relationship, including:
- Opening mutual embassies.
- Launching of direct flights. The first direct commercial flight between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi was taken by senior Israeli and US officials on August 31 of this year. Additionally, Saudi Arabian officials for the first time allowed Israeli planes to fly through their airspace between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi.
- Collaborating in fields ranging from medicine, science, and technology, to economics, culture, and tourism. Already, Israel and the UAE have begun to collaborate in their research towards a COVID-19 vaccine priority system.
Previously, Israel has signed peace treaties with:
- Egypt, signed by PM Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat in 1979
- Jordan, signed by PM Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein in 1994
We hope that these positive developments also help sway our Palestinian neighbors to return to the negotiation table on the basis of the full and balanced Peace to Prosperity Initiative, which indeed answers two of Israel’s most pressing concerns: our security and our national interest.
In the words of PM Netanyahu, “This historic change will also advance peace with the Arab world and, in the end, peace, true peace, monitored, secure, with the Palestinians as well.”
To that end, we will mention the Arab League for refusing to endorse a Palestinian draft condemning the Abraham Accord. As we promoted peace, countries like Iran and Turkey condemned it; and while we celebrated peace, Hamas terrorists launched rockets into southern Israel, injuring two.
Israel will always keep striving and working towards any route and any possibility that brings us closer to peace with our neighbors, with the region, and with the entire Arab world.
As the High Holidays approach, we echo PM Netanyahu: “This week is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and what a blessing we bring to this New Year, a blessing of friendship, a blessing of hope, a blessing of peace.”
As always, we hope that you are staying safe in these times. We are delighted to bring you this message of peace, warmth, and hope, and we look forward to bringing you these positive messages.
If you would like additional photos from the events please contact Jonathan Goldman at Digital@washington.mfa.gov.il.
