Washington, D.C. – January 2025 – The return of President Donald Trump to the White House is already generating positive momentum for the Abraham Accords, according to Asher Fredman, a Senior Fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Director for Israel at the Abraham Accords Peace Institute. Fredman shared his insights during a recent panel discussion on economic ties under the Accords, organized by the Coalition for Regional Security.
The panel, chaired by renowned business and legal expert Tally Zingher, featured leading figures in Abraham Accords-related economic, innovation, and healthcare initiatives, including Eyal Waldman, Natalie Refuah, Ambassador Amir Hayek, and Dr. Tal Patalon.
Challenges and Opportunities in Strengthening the Accords
Fredman highlighted several key points regarding the current state and future prospects of the Abraham Accords:
- Rebuilding Warm Peace and People-to-People Ties
- Despite diplomatic and strategic relations remaining stable since the October 7 attacks, Fredman noted that efforts must now focus on rebuilding trust and fostering deeper cultural and social connections. While trade ties between Israel and its Arab partners have grown, revitalizing the unique people-to-people ties that characterized the early days of the Accords is crucial.
- Advancing Multilateral Initiatives
- Fredman emphasized the importance of moving beyond bilateral agreements to embrace ambitious multilateral projects such as:
- The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC),
- The I2U2 framework (India, Israel, the UAE, and the US),
- A potential Middle East Defense Alliance, and
- Collaborative initiatives in food security, water, health, and innovation.
- Fredman emphasized the importance of moving beyond bilateral agreements to embrace ambitious multilateral projects such as:
- Turning Agreements into Actionable Partnerships
- A sobering insight shared by Fredman was that 90% of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between Israel and its partners in the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco failed to translate into tangible business or scientific partnerships. He stressed the need to analyze successful collaborations to identify best practices and optimize future cooperation efforts.
- Expanding Beyond Existing Partners
- While the potential normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia remains a top diplomatic goal, Fredman urged stakeholders to continue efforts to strengthen ties with existing Abraham Accords partners and explore opportunities for engagement with additional Muslim and Arab nations.
- A New Diplomatic Approach Under Trump’s Leadership
- Fredman credited Trump’s first administration with taking bold, innovative approaches that led to four historic peace agreements. He warned against returning to the traditional policy of allowing the Palestinian issue to obstruct regional cooperation, stating that Trump’s strategy of sidelining Palestinian veto power was key to the success of the Abraham Accords.
“During the first Trump Administration, we communicated that Palestinians could join and benefit from the Accords, but they would no longer have a veto over Israeli-Arab ties. This strategic shift led to unprecedented breakthroughs, while the Biden Administration’s return to old paradigms resulted in no new peace agreements,” Fredman remarked.
Saudi Arabia: The Next Big Move?
Fredman echoed the growing optimism that Saudi Arabia may soon join the Abraham Accords, particularly given recent diplomatic shifts. He underscored the importance of leveraging this momentum to solidify Israel’s relations with existing partners while remaining open to future regional opportunities.
As Trump resumes office, experts like Fredman are optimistic that his administration’s bold diplomatic style will continue to drive progress in Middle Eastern peace and economic cooperation.