opinion
The Abraham Accords
Face Challenges Ahead
BY MEIR BEN-SHABBAT
s we celebrate the second anniversary of
the Abraham Accords, we can look back
with immense satisfaction at the rapid progress in
relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain and
Morocco. The accords have managed to overcome the
thorny challenges posed by Israel’s political and
security situation, and their very existence has
now become part of our daily lives.

Moreover, the inherent potential of the accords
is far from being fully exhausted and has actually
grown due to the warming of relations with Turkey
and emerging global economic challenges.

It is essential, however, that we invest serious
effort in bolstering and expanding the framework
of the Abraham Accords, while doing our utmost
to prevent Iran from wielding its negative influ-
ence to sabotage them.

In addition to security-related activity and the
economic progress being made, policymakers
in Israel would do well to consider the following
steps: First, expanding the circle of peace-supporting
countries involved. It is important to invite Sudan
and Chad — which were unjustly left out of the
accords — to participate in all forums and work-
ing groups. It is important that they too enjoy the
fruits of peace and benefit from their decision to
normalize relations with Israel. This will also serve
to encourage additional countries to join. If it does
not take place, it could result in negative momen-
tum or even withdrawal from the agreements.

Second, recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty
over the Western Sahara. Although Israel pro-
vided no outright commitment to do this, there is
clear expectation of it in Rabat, especially after
the U.S. and others recognized Morocco’s claim.

Third, the opening of an overland trade route
via or from Israel to the Gulf states. Such a route
would be considerably more efficient and less
expensive than those currently in use. It would
yield significant economic profits for regional
states, as well as the European Union, which
would benefit from using it to import and export
vehicles. This would be a tremendous boost
to trade among the member countries of the
Abraham Accords, while also contributing to the
global economy.

Fourth, expediting joint ventures for marketing
solutions to globally urgent problems in the fields
of energy, food and water, while exploiting the
18 SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
Oleksii Liskonih / iStock / Getty Images Plus
A It is essential ... however, that we invest serious
effort in bolstering and expanding the framework
of the Abraham Accords, while doing our utmost
to prevent Iran from wielding its negative
influence to sabotage them.

relative advantages of Israel and the Gulf states.

Fifth, expanding educational and cultural initia-
tives to reinforce deeply-entrenched attitudes in
favor of peace and weaken separatist approaches
and radical Islamic ideas. This is critical to estab-
lishing peace at the popular level, between citi-
zens and peoples, rather than just between states
and governments.

Who said making peace was easy? Signing trea-
ties is always a festive occasion that uplifts the
spirit, filling us with joy and optimism. However,
just as with a marriage, the wedding ceremony
is only the start. The main task lies in the days
and years ahead. In order to build a life together,
we must realize that we cannot take peace for
granted. It requires effort, investment, initiative,
creativity and constant innovation. Every success
along the way bolsters faith in the partnership
together with the belief that this is indeed the right
way ahead. Common experiences add emotion
and inject new, vital energy into the process.

Despite political fluctuations, the Abraham
Accords have been and still remain a consensus
issue. This is not only due to the clear advan-
tages in the security, economic and technological
aspects of the agreements, but because they
express the sincere hope for genuine peace
based on strength and security and a much
brighter future. JE
Meir Ben-Shabbat, a visiting senior research fel-
low at the Institute for National Security Studies,
served as Israel’s national security adviser and
head of the National Security Council between
2017 and 2021. This op-ed was originally pub-
lished by Israel Hayom.




nation / world
Prosecutors: ‘Camp Auschwitz’ Jan. 6 Rioter Was Wearing SS Shirt
Underneath Robert Keith Packer’s sister asked people not to judge him by his cover, a “Camp
Auschwitz” sweatshirt. A prosecutor said he was wearing a Nazi SS T-shirt under-
neath, JTA reported.

The revelation of what Packer, a 57-year-old Virginia pipefitter, was wearing on
Jan. 6, 2021, came on Sept. 15 when a federal judge sentenced him to 75 days for
his role in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The sweatshirt, which became a symbol of the rioters’ ties to white suprema-
cist movements, was “incredibly offensive,” U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols said
before handing down the sentence.

“It seems to me that he wore that sweatshirt for a reason. We don’t know what
the reason was because Mr. Packer hasn’t told us,” Nichols said.

Germany’s Public Broadcaster Mandates That All Employees
Support Israel’s Right to Exist
Germany’s public broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, revised its code of conduct to
require support for Israel’s right to exist, and employees who fail to do so may
now be fired, JTA reported.

The move announced Sept. 1 preceded a court order last week that DW rein-
state a former employee who was fired after the company determined she had
made comments about Israel that could be construed as antisemitic. In all, seven
employees from the broadcaster’s Arabic service were let go last year on similar
grounds, and so far two have successfully sued DW for reinstatement.

The revised conduct code appears to be timed to strengthen the company’s
hand in such cases in the future. DW spokesperson Vera Tellmann said in an
email that the company “is awaiting the reasons for the verdict in one case and
reserves the right to take further legal action.”
DW is not the only German media company to expressly endorse Israel’s right
to exist. In 1967, the Axel Springer company, one of Germany’s biggest media
conglomerates that now owns Politico and Insider, established “corporate prin-
ciples” that include “support [for] the Jewish people and the right of existence of
the State of Israel.”
Australian University Magazine Editor Fired After Writing
‘Death to Israel’
The student union at the University of Adelaide fired an editor of its campus
student magazine after she called for “death to Israel” in an article last month,
JTA reported
In a statement on Sept. 13, the board of YouX, the university’s student body,
said that Habibah Jaghoori’s “recent public conduct would reasonably be per-
ceived by any fair-minded person to be threatening the welfare of students at our
University.” Jaghoori, an editor of On Dit, the campus student magazine, concluded an arti-
cle on Aug. 4 with the phrase “Death to Israel.” The article was prompted by the
three-day conflict last month between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in
the Gaza Strip. The conflict killed close to 50 Palestinian civilians.

The YouX statement said it was not the article that prompted the firing of
Jaghoori. Her removal was “specifically related to her conduct and behaviour
since the article’s publication,” it said.

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Study: Tel Aviv Home to 42,400 Millionaires
A new study released this week by Henley & Partners found that 42,400 million-
aires live in Tel Aviv, or about one in 10 residents, jns.org reported.

Among them, Israel’s coastal city and primary economic engine is home to
2,260 people with a net worth of more than $10 million, 118 residents with more
than $100 million and 12 billionaires.

Tel Aviv placed second in terms of the richest cities in the Middle East — based
on the number of millionaires — behind Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Globally, New York City has the most millionaires (345,600), followed by
Tokyo, the San Francisco Bay area, London and Singapore. JE
— Compiled by Andy Gotlieb
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