Israel is committed to deepening partnerships throughout the region, Ambassador to the UAE Amir Hayek said on Sunday, marking the fourth anniversary of the Abraham Accords, which saw Jerusalem make peace with four Arab countries, led by the Emirates and Bahrain.
“On the 4th anniversary of the Abraham Accords we reflect on the joint journey towards greater cooperation, mutual respect and understanding in our region,” Hayek tweeted. “We are committed to deepening our partnerships towards a brighter future for all.”
On Sept. 15, 2020, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a peace agreement known as the Abraham Accords, at a ceremony on the White House lawn chaired by then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Abraham Accords also saw the Jewish state also establish relations with Sudan and Morocco in October and December of that year, respectively.
In June 2021, then-Foreign Minister Yair Lapid flew to the UAE in a historic first official visit by an Israeli minister to the Gulf state. Last year, then-Foreign Minister Eli Cohen inaugurated the permanent home of the Israeli embassy in Bahrain during his first official visit to Manama.
Sheikh Abdullah has visited Israel on several occasions since the signing of the Abraham Accords, including for the Negev Summit in March 2022 along with his Bahraini, Moroccan, Egyptian and U.S. counterparts.
Following the Oct. 7 attacks and the ensuing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli-Emirati relationship seems to be the strongest of the Abraham Accords, with diplomats from the Jewish state remaining in the UAE, allowing the continuation of dialogue even as Abu Dhabi opposed Israel in international forums, experts told JNS in May.
Meanwhile, a land corridor project between the Gulf states and Israel through Saudi Arabia and Jordan was extended to Egypt, as alternate sea routes came under attack from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
The transportation project was launched without publicity even as U.S.-brokered talks were underway with Saudi Arabia towards the possible normalization of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Jerusalem.
