Abraham Accords Peace Institute

Exciting news! For the last 3.5 years, I have had the great privilege of serving as Director for Israel of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute (AAPI). AAPI played a key role in strengthening and deepening the strategic, economic, innovation and people-to-people ties between the countries of the Abraham Accords. Even following Hamas’ October 7 terror attack and the multi-front war that ensued, the Abraham Accords remained resilient. Following President @realDonaldTrump's return to the White House, there is now an historic opportunity to expand the circle of warm peace and mutually-beneficial cooperation in the region. As of this week, the work of AAPI will continue as part of the @Heritage Foundation, leveraging Heritage’s research excellence, policy expertise and global reputation to continue advancing regional integration, normalization and cooperation. In the words of AAPI Founder, @jaredkushner: “I’m grateful for the excellent work the Abraham Accords Peace Institute performed to nurture and strengthen the Accords during a period when they were new and most vulnerable. I am very excited to see what the team will accomplish at its new home.” I look forward to the opportunity to work once again with @RC_Greenway, Director of the Allison Center for National Security at Heritage (and former AAPI President), as well as with Dr. @VictoriaCoates, Vice President of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy. It will be great to continue working with @EVKontorovich and @Aaronson_David as Israel-based Heritage Fellows. I am grateful for the warm welcome from Heritage. In the words of Heritage President Dr. @KevinRobertsTX: “Heritage welcomes the opportunity to carry on the mission of the renowned Abraham Accords Peace Institute—an organization that has had immense positive impacts on regional stability in the Middle East and national security here at home. Uniting AAPI’s unique perspective and network with Heritage’s deep policy and security expertise will advance the peace process in the region for a safer and more prosperous America.” Finally I want to thank @lightstonea for his leadership of AAPI and his friendship. Aryeh has joined the team of Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and will continue to play a central role in expanding the Abraham Accords under the leadership of President Trump. In my role as Visiting Fellow at Heritage, and as Director of @MisgavINSen, I look forward to continuing to work with amazing friends and partners across the Middle East, U.S. and Israel to advance a future of peace, prosperity and cooperation for the entire region.🕊️

🇺🇸 President @realDonaldTrump & 🇮🇳 PM @narendramodi declared last month that they would "build one of the greatest trade routes in all of history. It will run from India to Israel to Italy and onward to the U.S." They are referring to the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC). IMEC, once operational, will have far-reaching impacts across the Middle East. Consider: EU-India trade reached $135 billion in 2023- and this trade is growing at a rate of 9.6% a year. 90% of EU-India trade is containerized- meaning it could travel along an IMEC rail route. This includes pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electronics and textiles. If only 25% of that trade began to utilize IMEC, that would be close to $34 billion dollars worth of trade. And that does not even take into account the growing intra-regional trade between Israel and its Abraham Accords partners, which would also utilize IMEC. (🇦🇪🇮🇱 trade grew 10% in 2024). IMEC will promote infrastructure investment, job creation, mutual prosperity and a shared interest in stability and cooperation across a region that very much needs it. Now is the time for all IMEC partner countries, under the leadership of the U.S. and India, to move forward with this paradigm-shifting initiative.

Despite regional tensions, Abraham Accords ties remain strong. The Abraham Accords Peace Institute's analysis shows that in 2024, economic relations and trade continued to grow between Israel and all of its peace partners in the Arab world. • Trade between Israel 🇮🇱 and the UAE 🇦🇪 reached $3.24 billion in 2024, an increase of 10% from 2023. • Trade between Israel 🇮🇱 and Bahrain 🇧🇭 reached $108.5 million in 2024, an increase of 843% from 2023. • Trade between Israel 🇮🇱 and Morocco 🇲🇦 reached $109.9 million in 2024, an increase of 40% from 2023. • Trade between Israel 🇮🇱 and Egypt 🇪🇬 reached $579 million in 2024, an increase of 31% from 2023. • Trade between Israel 🇮🇱 and Jordan 🇯🇴 reached $477.6 million in 2024, an increase of 7% from 2023. Now is the time to deepen and expand the Abraham Accords, and shape a future of peace, prosperity and partnership for the entire region.

Ramadan Kareem to all our friends and partners in the countries of the Abraham Accords and around the world!

Prime Minister @narendramodi talks about the potential of the India-Israel-USA-UAE grouping named I2U2 to drive regional economic growth.

The India-Middle East-Europe (IMEC) Corridor connecting India to the West will be a game-changer for global prosperity, resilience and trade. It will spur regional integration and cooperation across the Middle East, including the GCC, Jordan and Israel. Serve as a Western-aligned alternative to competing Chinese, Russian and Iranian-aligned trade routes. And significantly cut shipping costs and times, leading to rapid economic growth, benefiting the United States, Europe, India, and the entire Middle East. Advancing IMEC should be a top priority for the U.S., India, Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and all of the countries of the region in the coming years.

Make the Abraham Accords Great Again! New piece with my dear friend Loay Alshareef (@lalshareef) in @BreitbartNews! As Arab & Israeli peace activists, @realDonaldTrump's announcement of the Abraham Accords in 2020 changed our lives. The 2nd Trump Administration holds the potential for transforming the Middle East into a global center of prosperity, innovation and peace. Achieving the goal of lasting peace in the Middle East will require defeating extremism, whether in the form of the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS, or in the form of the radical regime in Tehran and its terror proxies. As long as Hamas remains the dominant force on the ground in Gaza, there is no hope for a future of stability in the Strip. Reconstruction materials sent into the Strip will be diverted to rebuild Hamas’ terror tunnels, and the money spent on Gazan infrastructure will go to waste in the next round of fighting. A brighter future for Gaza requires not just the elimination of Hamas, but a process of deradicalization. In this context, the UAE’s example of a national culture and educational curriculum committed to mutual respect and peaceful coexistence can serve as an important model. It will also be critical to address media platforms that spread pro-terror and antisemitic incitement, while actively seeking to undermine normalization and the Abraham Accords. Perhaps the most influential of such platforms is Qatar’s Al Jazeera’s network. On a personal level, we will continue our efforts to build ties of people-to-people peace between our countries and across the region. We look forward to renewed US leadership in countering extremists, advancing win-win cooperation, and creating the groundwork for a lasting and viable peace. The Abraham Accords began with incredible promise and were on the brink of significant expansion. Over the past four years, that momentum stalled. Now, with God's help, we can work together to Make the Abraham Accords Great Again. Check out our full piece. Link in first comment 👇

An honor to take part in the Lights of Hope conference together with Pres. @Isaac_Herzog, Ministers @ofir_sofer & @AmichaiChikli, and many other stars. The Dec. 30 Virtual Event is hosted by @ILTVNews & @ynetnews. Fantastic to join @MisgavINSen Fellow @FleurHassanN, @RawaneOsmane & @MaayanJaffe to discuss the Lights of Regional Stability. Join me by registering here: iltvisrael.com/lights-of-hope

Four years ago this month, 🇺🇸 President @realDonaldTrump's Special Advisor @jaredkushner, and 🇮🇱 National Security Advisor (and @MisgavINSen Chair) Meir Ben Shabbat led an historic delegation to Rabat to meet with HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco 🇲🇦. This meeting opened the door to an incredible flourishing of warm ties between Israel and Morocco in fields ranging from trade and tech, to academia and the arts, and the rekindling of the ancient bonds between the two nations. I had the great privilege last week of addressing the Israel-Morocco Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the past, present and most importantly future of Morocco-Israel relations and the #AbrahamAccords. Despite regional tensions, diplomatic, trade and strategic ties continue to grow, and there is now tremendous potential for further expanding mutually-benificial cooperation during the second Trump Administration. Congratulations to the people of 🇮🇱 and🇲🇦 on this historic milestone.

The Abraham Accords Peace Institute extends its best wishes and congratulations to the Kingdom of #Bahrain and its people on the occasion of Bahrain’s 53rd National Day. We thank HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his central role in promoting peace, tolerance and shared prosperity in the region, in the spirit of the Abraham Accords. We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen and expand the circle of warm peace in the coming year. 🇧🇭🇧🇭🇧🇭 #BahrainNationalDay

Four years ago today, President @realDonaldTrump, HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco, and Israeli PM @netanyahu announced that Morocco and Israel would reestablish diplomatic and economic ties in the framework of the #AbrahamAccords. President Trump also announced the US’ recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara. Since then, cultural, business and tourism ties have increased, direct flights have been established, and new bridges of understanding and cooperation have been built. We look forward to the continued growth of Morocco-Israel ties in the coming year, for the benefit of the Israeli and Moroccan People, and for the entire Middle East. 🇲🇦🇮🇱🇺🇸🕊️

The Abraham Accords Peace Institute wishes the Leadership and People of the UAE 🇦🇪 a joyous Eid Al Etihad. May the UAE continue to serve as an inspiring example of tolerance, vision and growth, and may it continue to lead the region towards a peaceful and prosperous future. #AbrahamAccords

The Abraham Accords Peace Institute expresses its deepest sorrow over the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan. We send our most heartfelt condolences to Rabbi Kogan’s family and the UAE Jewish community. We thank and salute the Emirati authorities for rapidly identifying and arresting the perpetrators of this crime, and for the UAE’s continued commitment to tolerance, harmony and peace.

Abraham Accords ties continue to grow! As President @realDonaldTrump's election brings a renewed focus on strengthening & expanding the #AbrahamAccords, economic ties between Israel and its peace partners continue to grow. Year-over-Year, in the first 9 months of 2024, trade between: Israel & Morocco grew 53% Israel & UAE grew 4% Israel & Bahrain grew 988% Israel & Egypt grew 51% 🇮🇱🇲🇦🇦🇪🇧🇭🇪🇬🦾 (🧵Trade data thread below) @lightstonea @fredman_a @Aaronson_David