Middle East Peace Agreement Signed at White House
The Arab-Israeli conflict has been a source of tension and bloodshed in the Middle East for decades. Last week, officials from several Middle Eastern nations met at the White House to sign the Abraham Accords, an important diplomatic agreement. But will it be able to achieve lasting peace in the region? Here, btw takes a closer look at this historic event.
What Happened?
Last Tuesday, representatives from several nations, hosted by the Trump administration, met at the White House to sign diplomatic agreements. Attending the event were Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani; and Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The signing was witnessed by more than seven hundred people, including members of Congress from both sides of the political aisle.
Important to note is that these nations are not at war with one another, and have been working together recently on security and economic issues. However, the Abraham Agreement makes the UAE and Bahrain the third and fourth Arab nations to open diplomatic relations with Israel. Egypt, Israel, and Jordan signed the Camp David Accords during the Jimmy Carter administration in 1979.
What’s Included in the Agreement?
While the exact details weren’t released publicly before the signing, it is understood that the agreement calls for increased trade between the three member nations, as well as opening embassies in the spirit of international cooperation. Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the peace accords were important for three reasons: as the first step toward lasting Arab-Israeli peace; for the economic benefits of a partnership between the three nations; and because political peace leads to peace between the citizens of different nations.
The accord can’t be called a peace treaty, because it united three nations that weren’t actually at war. The Abraham Accords do not address the continuing conflict in the Middle East between the Israeli government and the Palestinian National Authority.. Before it was signed, the Palestinian leaders repeatedly asked that other Arab nations avoid making peace agreements with Israelfor now, until a diplomatic agreement between the Israeli government and Palestinian National Authority can be reached. The Trump Administration focused on drawing up agreements between Israel and other Middle Eastern nations instead.