Friends,
I’m so proud to be interviewing US Ambassador Gerald Feierstein. With over 40 years (yep) of experience in the region, Amb. Feierstein is perhaps best positioned to lend his voice to the topic of the Abraham Accords.
The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, marked a historic moment in Middle Eastern diplomacy by formalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco. However, the roots of these agreements trace back decades, revealing that these relationships were built on shared interests in regional security and economic development rather than sudden diplomatic breakthroughs.
Historically, Morocco maintained informal ties with Israel, largely due to its Jewish diaspora and the close relationship between the Moroccan royal family and the Jewish community. The UAE and Bahrain, while lacking the same historical ties, found common ground with Israel in their shared concerns over the growing influence of Iran, which they viewed as a direct threat to regional stability. For these Gulf states, partnering with Israel was a strategic move to counterbalance Iranian influence and access advanced technology and investment opportunities.
While the Trump administration received praise for brokering the Abraham Accords, the reality is that these relationships were already in motion long before 2020. The agreements effectively formalized what was already a tacit understanding among these nations: cooperation with Israel could yield significant economic and security benefits. The UAE, in particular, leveraged these accords to strengthen its economy by tapping into Israel’s technological innovations and expanding its influence as a financial hub.
Despite the economic and security successes, the Abraham Accords have been criticized for sidelining the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Previous peace efforts in the Middle East focused heavily on resolving this issue, viewing it as a prerequisite for broader regional peace. However, the Abraham Accords inverted this logic, emphasizing normalization with Israel irrespective of the Palestinian situation. Critics argue that this approach not only marginalizes the Palestinians but also risks inflaming regional tensions by ignoring the core issue that has driven decades of conflict.
Furthermore, the Accords have exposed new fault lines within the region. Countries like Saudi Arabia, while supportive of economic cooperation with Israel, have been cautious about fully endorsing the Accords without addressing the Palestinian question. Additionally, the October 7th terror attack by Hamas, as some experts suggest, was intended to derail the Abraham Accords by shifting focus back to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, illustrating the fragility of these new alliances.
Iran’s response to the Abraham Accords has been multifaceted. While it initially denounced the agreements as furthering Western imperialism, it has simultaneously sought to ease tensions with Gulf states by engaging in dialogue and reopening diplomatic channels. This dual approach underscores Iran’s recognition that it must navigate a more complex regional landscape where traditional alliances are no longer as clear-cut.
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