Abraham Accords
“Science will play a much bigger role in our thinking going forward. It is only possible when you have successful technological countries, like the UAE and Israel, in the region come together,” said United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Called “AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding,” it will be led by former ambassador Marc Sievers.
“Thanks to the [Abraham Accords], we—an Israeli company—are able to cooperate with our Middle East neighbors to solve one of the region’s difficult problems: water scarcity,” said Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, president and CEO of Watergen.
The agreement between the two countries will help “provide certainty and favorable conditions for business activity, and will strengthen economic ties,” said Israel’s Finance Minister Israel Katz.
“Even if the rationales underpinning Qatar’s foreign policies are pragmatic and geostrategic in nature, generations of teaching such extreme sentiments have had some impact, somewhere, on the decision-making chain,” says David Roberts of King’s College London.
“The signs at this stage are positive, but more than just nice words will be required,” says Simon Henderson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
It will focus on increasing trade, tourism and other programs to foster interpersonal connections between the five signatory countries.
“We look at anti-Semitism around the world today, the rise in Europe—double-digit increases. But one place, it’s different. In one sector of the world,” said Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations executive vice chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.
The Israeli energy partnership has signed an MOU to sell its 22 percent holding in the reservoir for $1.1 billion.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein hails the bilateral accord that will see Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi join forces in the fight against pandemics.
The deal includes the sale of fifth generation F-35 stealth fighter jets and advanced armed drones.
“At the end of the ceremony, the ‘El Malei Rachamim’ prayer was held and candles were lit in memory of the victims,” says local Jewish organization the House of Ten Commandments.
