The Abraham Accord: Peace Agreement Between Israel and UAE

The Abraham Accord: Peace Agreement Between Israel and UAE

Opinion by Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman

August 14, 2020

The announcement of a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates couldn’t come at a better time.

These days, as the COVID pandemic continues to rage unabated, when politics, social unrest, the economy, jobs and other divisive issues leave all of us afraid to listen to the news for fear of what else could be going wrong, the words “peace agreement” sound a little like a Disney fantasy. Our cynical minds turn immediately to thinking, Why? What’s going on? Who is gaining from this agreement—and what is being gained by it?

And the answer is simple: Everyone and everything.

When the UAE first became an independent country in 1971 its first president termed Israel, “the enemy.” By 2015, however, Israel opened a diplomatic office in the Emirates. But even before that, mostly under cover, cooperation in trade, security, technology and other areas had already been going on for several years.

The normalization of relations between the two countries is a major achievement for which President Trump, Jared Kushner and Secretary of State Pompeo deserve much credit and thanks. For, despite long-standing cooperation between Israel and the UAE, there have been roadblocks too. Sports events in which Israeli athletes participated were boycotted by the UAE. Travel restrictions existed. Recognition of the Jewish State was adamantly rejected.

Now, however, with what is being called “The Abraham Accord” (named after the common ancestor of the Jewish and Muslim faiths), a new stage in the relationship between Israel and the Arab world has begun.

Prior to the Israel/UAE agreement, only two other Arab countries had signed peace agreements with the Jewish State: Egypt and Jordan. Ending the state of war that had existed since 1948 was important, but these proved isolated developments. The accord with the UAE is part of a new game plan, a wider and more encompassing maneuver for a new time and a new world.

For Israel, recognition by an Arab state is an old dream come true. The process has been long and complicated. At times it seemed more science fiction than possible reality.

So what has changed?

In a word: Iran.

The world’s largest exporter of terror and violence, Iran has long been aiming for domination of the Middle East. The failed Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad has meant that Iran now plays a major role there, establishing military bases and a regular supply route to Hezbollah—the armed militia that runs Lebanon (and is responsible for the horrific ammonium nitrate explosion in Beirut earlier this month). Iran also arms and supplies the Houthis, who have been waging war against Saudi Arabia and wreaking havoc and disaster in neighboring Yemen. Iran has been menacing the United States, jeopardizing oil shipping in the Persian Gulf, and threatening Israel as well as Western European countries with its development of nuclear capabilities and the ability to deliver nuclear warheads on ICBM’s.

Iran’s crumbling economy hasn’t stopped any of its expansionist plans. Despite economic and diplomatic pressure from the United States and elsewhere, Iran is persistent in furthering its militaristic aims. The upcoming elections in the United States and the uncertainty of a second term for President Trump have bolstered Iran’s determination to make its move now, with the hope that a new, more favorable, Democratic administration might prove more forgiving of any consequences tomorrow to such a move today.

Other countries in the region are similarly fearful of a change in administration. In their view, a return to a deal with Iran such as the one carved out by Obama would mean one thing only: a more powerful and threatening Iran.

A defensive wall is thus being built, with the UAE-Israel peace agreement as the first in what will hopefully be a chain reaction. In a major speech announcing the accord, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, intimated as much, without naming any names.

But for all its benefits, any such treaty must also come with a price. The United Arab Emirates has to face the rage not only of Iran, but also of other hardline Islamist countries and governments. Not surprisingly, the Palestinian Authority has denounced the agreement. Turkey has called it hypocrisy and a betrayal.

For Netanyahu, he now has to face a large part of his power base—the extreme right-wing Settler Movement. In making the deal, Netanyahu has suspended his plans to annex parts of what the world calls “the West Bank,” a promise he reiterated as recently as last month. On the other hand, one could ask if—at this point in his career—the loss of this segment of his base is so damaging. More than half of Israel’s population has stated and proven—many times over—its willingness to trade land for peace. For the many vocal and fierce opponents of Bibi and his administration, this move is seen as a move in the right direction.

Still, despite the expected opposition, the Abraham Accord is a huge step forward.

For the United States and President Trump, the Accord is a major accomplishment, one that every President has hoped for since 1948. For Israel, it is a step toward the realization of a long-sought dream. For those Arab countries that would like to see progress into the 21^st century—technologically, economically, ideologically—this is also a positive step.

Some will say that this agreement will lead to stabilization in one of the world’s most volatile regions. Others, more skeptical, will undoubtedly see it as a hardening of positions, the formation of new power blocks and an alliance that would lead to world-wide conflagration.

For a world weary of war and terror, however, this show of solidarity means greater determination and strength in fighting evil. In the larger scope of things, it doesn’t do much to alleviate hunger, pollution, preservation of water and other natural resources. However, if it does lead to greater cooperation in health, technology and education, the Abraham Accord will prove an important stepping-stone towards a safer, saner world.

Let’s hope that this is the case.

© 2020 by Boaz D. Heilman