Abraham Accords Has Completed 3 years

Relevance: GS2 – Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

(Source:, The Hindu, 09/21/2023)

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Why in the News?

• The Abraham Accords, the agreement between the United States (US), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel, which was signed in September 2020 will be completing 3 years in September 2023.
• The Accords were later extended to the countries of Sudan, Bahrain and Morocco and marked the first normalisation of ties between Israel and Arab countries.

Key features of the Abraham Accords

• The Accords states that the significance of strengthening and maintaining peace in West Asia is upheld and recognised.
• It also promoted religious freedom, intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
• The Accords also pursue an end to conflict and radicalisation.
• It promoted the use of art, medicine, science and commerce and its role in bringing peace in west asian countries.
• It seeks to expand friendly relations between Israel and its neighbours in the spirit of a shared commitment to a better future

Positive outcomes through the Accords

Geopolitical Ties

• Successful opening up of the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi(UAE) in June 2021.
• The UAE also opened its embassy in Tel Aviv(Israel).

Economic Ties

• The scope of trade between Israel and other West Asian countries increased 74% between 2021 and 2022.
• There are substantial commercial collaborations between companies from the UAE, Israel, Bahrain, and the U.S., partnering with the Indian private sector.

Energy Ties

• As per this agreement, a UAE-owned firm will be constructing a 600 megawatts solar energy facility in Jordan and provide energy to Israel.
• A desalination plant in Israel would deliver 200 million cubic metres of water to Jordan.

Educational Ties

• The Abraham Accords have encouraged collaboration in the educational sector also.
• In 2022, Ben­Gurion University of Israel welcomed students from Morocco.
• Significant number of Emirati students have enrolled in Israeli universities after the accord.
• Bahrain has also embraced the prospects for shared educational activities and signed a number of agreements with Israel to advance student and professor exchanges.

Tourism and Cultural Ties

• In 2021, visits from Israel to the UAE increased by 172%.
• The number of Israeli nationals flying to Bahrain since the establishment of direct flights has increased exponentially.
• UAE has incorporated Holocaust education into its school curriculum as a mandatory subject to foster coexistence and religious tolerance between the people of Israel and Arab Countries.
• The Abraham Accords also opened the door for Muslims around the world to visit the historic sites in Israel and to peacefully pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam.

Challenges ahead of Abraham Accord

• The UAE is facing challenges in working with the current Israel's most extreme government ever.
• Against the backdrop of increased Israeli violence against Palestinians under this government, the UAE has condemned Israel’s violations of basic Palestinian rights.
• Apart from this short truce phase overall success of the Accords seems to be beneficial for the regions in multiple contexts stated above.

India and the Abraham Accords

• The Indian diaspora in the Gulf region now has the facilities of direct flights between the UAE and Israel, as well as between Israel and Bahrain.
• Successful establishment of the I2U2 Group (also known as West Asian Quad), formed by Israel, India, the UAE, and the U.S. and its primary focus will be on joint investments in critical areas such as water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.
• The Emirati project for a robotic solar panel was endorsed by Eccopia, an Israeli company, which has a manufacturing base in India.
• In December 2020, the International Federation of Indo-Israel Chamber of Commerce(IFIICC) was established in Dubai in accordance with the successful signs of the Abraham Accords.

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FAQ

MCQ

Question: Which is the following county is/are not a member of the Abraham Accords?

1. United States of America
2. Kuwait
3. United Arab Emirate
4. Israel
5. Saudi Arabia

Select the correct option using the code given below:

(a) Only 1,2 and 5

(b) Only 1,3 and 4

(c) Only 2 and 5

(d) Only 2 and 3