Israel celebrates the Abraham Accords with increased trade

Israel has celebrated the fourth anniversary of the Abraham Accords signed with the UAE and Bahrain, and then Morocco and Sudan, even as the occupation state is waging a genocidal war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

“Israel is committed to expanding the circle of peace with other countries in the region,” said Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Sunday as reported by the Times of Israel. “Today, we mark four years since the Abraham Accords, historic agreements that reflect a shared destiny and have positively transformed the Middle East politically, in security, economically, socially and educationally.”

Katz claimed, absurdly given the ongoing genocide, that the Abraham Accords have made peace in the region a reality. “They have shattered the historical illusion that peace and prosperity in the Middle East are only possible under certain conditions, and proved that shared vision and cooperation are the path forward to a better future.”

He insisted, ignoring the evidence to the contrary, that, “Despite the many challenges we face now, and in the future, Israel will always be committed to working with its regional partners, with the hope of realising the values of the Abraham Accords, and expanding the circle of peace to more countries.”

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, meanwhile, said on X, “The UAE is not prepared to support the day after the war in Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

In the same context, Anwar Bin Mohammed Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the Emirati president, said, “The UAE will remain with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.” He added that the foreign minister’s statement “reflects the UAE’s belief that stability in the region can only be achieved through the two-state solution.”

It has been reported by the Abraham Accords Peace Institute that the volume of trade between Israel and its “peace partners” have increased since signing the agreements. By June this year, for example, the volume of trade between Israel and the UAE amounted to $283.5 million for the first six months of 2024 year. The figure for trade with Bahrain was $17.9m; with Morocco, $8.4m; with Egypt $76m; and with Jordan, $51.5m.

Egypt and Jordan, of course, have had peace treaties with Israel since 1979 and 1994 respectively.

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