On the White House lawn five years ago, the historic and groundbreaking Abraham Accords were signed. Largely ignored by the media and the international community because they were brokered by President Donald Trump, the Accords normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, ushering in an era of unprecedented cooperation.
Despite an ongoing war on seven fronts and European and American leaders turning their backs on Israel, the Abraham Accords remain solid — a testament to the negotiating ability of President Trump and his team and the realities of a Middle East that doesn’t want to see Israel destroyed.
The Abraham Accords represent a paradigm shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy, breaking decades of stagnation where peace was inextricably linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Named after the biblical patriarch revered by Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike, the agreements formalized diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco — the first such normalizations with Arab states since the Israel-Jordan peace treaty in 1994. Unlike previous efforts, these accords bypassed the traditional prerequisite of resolving the Palestinian issue, focusing instead on shared economic interests, security concerns, and a collective stand against Iranian aggression.
At their core, the accords were about fostering “warm peace” — not just the absence of war but active collaboration. Trade between Israel and the UAE skyrocketed from virtually nothing to over $2.5 billion annually within the first few years, spanning sectors like technology, agriculture, and tourism. Direct flights connected Tel Aviv to Dubai, cultural exchanges flourished, and joint ventures in renewable energy and cybersecurity emerged. Bahrain followed suit with agreements on healthcare and finance, while Morocco’s deal included U.S. recognition of its sovereignty over Western Sahara, adding a strategic layer. Sudan’s inclusion marked a turning point for a nation emerging from isolation, promising economic aid and delisting from U.S. terrorism sponsors.
This historic breakthrough challenged the long-held Arab consensus that normalization with Israel must await Palestinian statehood, as outlined in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. Instead, it demonstrated that pragmatic alliances could drive regional stability, countering extremism and promoting prosperity. The accords’ success lies in their people-to-people focus, building bridges through commerce and innovation rather than top-down impositions.
The true test of the Abraham Accords came with the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war after October 7, which turned into a prolonged conflict in Gaza, drawing international condemnation and straining regional ties. Even after that war dominoed into hot conflicts in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Judea and Samaria, and Iran, remarkably, the agreements have not only survived but shown remarkable resilience, proving their foundational strength. While public sentiment in signatory countries soured amid images of destruction — with protests in Morocco and Bahrain calling for boycotts — official relations remained intact.
The UAE, for instance, continued diplomatic engagements even as it criticized Israel’s military actions. Trade volumes between Israel and the UAE actually increased during the conflict, with land routes through Jordan and Saudi Arabia facilitating goods movement when sea paths were disrupted. Bahrain hosted joint military exercises, and Morocco maintained defense pacts, including arms deals. Sudan, despite its internal turmoil, upheld its commitments. This endurance stems from the accords’ emphasis on mutual benefits: shared intelligence against Iranian threats, economic diversification away from oil, and technological partnerships that transcend political upheavals.
Looking ahead, the Abraham Accords hold immense potential for growth, with several nations poised to join this transformative initiative. Saudi Arabia remains the crown jewel, with strong rumors that they were prepared to sign onto the accords had Trump won in 2020. The Biden administration halted those talks, instead adhering to the false notion that any negotiations must include concessions to the Palestinian Authority and placating the Iranian regime. After the disastrous pullout from Afghanistan and the war in Gaza, Saudi Arabia was far less interested in doing anything with the U.S. as a negotiating partner. Now that Trump is back in office, Riyadh seems more willing to return to the table.
Beyond the Gulf, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are emerging as frontrunners, driven by shared interests in energy, security, and countering Iranian influence. Azerbaijan’s existing ties with Israel, including arms purchases, make it a natural fit, while Kazakhstan’s strategic position in Central Asia could extend the accords’ reach. Uzbekistan and other Turkic states are also in discussions, aiming to foster economic corridors.
Syria, under new leadership following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, is considering entry as part of its reintegration into the Arab fold. Oman and Indonesia have shown interest, with the latter’s large Muslim population offering symbolic weight. Even Lebanon and Libya have been mentioned in optimistic circles, though internal instability poses challenges. Armenia’s potential inclusion could address regional conflicts like Nagorno-Karabakh. With President Trump’s return to the White House, momentum is building for these expansions, promising a broader alliance against common threats.
Despite their promise, the Abraham Accords faced significant risks of derailment during the Biden administration, whose policies often undermined the momentum built by Trump. Initially slow to embrace the accords — viewing them as a Trump legacy — Biden’s team prioritized reviving the Iran nuclear deal, which alienated Gulf states wary of Tehran’s aggression. This focus shifted resources away from expanding normalization, stalling talks with Saudi Arabia.
The administration’s insistence on linking Saudi-Israeli ties to major Palestinian concessions — a departure from the accords’ innovative approach — further complicated matters. After the October 2023 Hamas attacks, Biden’s equivocal stance on Israel’s right to self-defense, coupled with humanitarian aid pushes that some saw as appeasing radicals, strained relations with accord partners. Public opinion in signatory countries dipped, with approval ratings dropping to as low as 31% in Morocco. Critics argue that Biden’s handling ignored the accords’ core principle of delinking from the Palestinian track, nearly unraveling the fragile peace. Fortunately, the inherent strength of the agreements prevented total collapse, but the period highlighted the perils of inconsistent U.S. leadership.
None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary foresight and tenacity of President Donald Trump, his senior advisor Jared Kushner, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. Trump boldly moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognized the Golan Heights — moves that, far from derailing peace, paved the way for Arab buy-in. Trump recognized something about the Middle East that decades of “international experts” did not: conviction matters. The Middle East doesn’t respect American leaders who cut and run; they respect strong leaders who do what they say and say what they do.
Trump also understood that, despite what Arab leaders say to their people, economic realities can sometimes override historical grievances. Paving the path to a future economy not reliant on oil alone is something many in the Arab world desire, and Trump used that interest to create a deal. His Peace to Prosperity plan redefined the conversation, proving that unconventional thinking could yield results where decades of orthodoxy failed.
Kushner, often called the architect of the accords, leveraged his business acumen to forge personal relationships with Arab leaders, negotiating tirelessly behind the scenes. His shuttle diplomacy, free from bureaucratic red tape, turned skeptics into allies, emphasizing shared threats like Iran and opportunities in tech and trade. Ambassador Friedman, a steadfast advocate for strong U.S.-Israel ties, provided on-the-ground expertise, ensuring the deals aligned with Israel’s security needs while appealing to Arab pragmatism. Together, this trio transformed the impossible into reality, earning accolades for their innovative diplomacy that continues to inspire.
Despite the monumental difficulty and historic nature of this achievement, there is little to no global recognition of the Accords. The Nobel Prize committee ignored it, opting instead to award the United Nations World Food Programme. The media ignored it, with outlets like The New York Times running a subheadline: “Little Said of Palestinians in Pact With Bahrain and Emirates.” Five years later, however, the world should recognize the importance of the Abraham Accords — and it’s beyond time that President Trump gets the credit he deserves.
Moshe Hill is a political analyst and columnist. His work can be found at www.aHillwithaView.com and on X at @HillWithView.