Three Years of the Abraham Accord: Promoting Peace and Prosperity | PWOnlyIAS 2023

Context:  This article is based on an Editorial “Three years of the Abraham Accord” which was published in The Hindu. This week marks three years of the signing of the Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. Morocco also signed a normalization agreement with Israel

Significance of the Abraham Accords:

• Stable West Asia: The decision was taken to promote a stable future for West Asia.
  • The Accord agreements bring people together, despite the differences in their language, religious beliefs, cultures and more.
• Regional and Multinational Cooperation: The Abraham Accord have laid the foundation for expanded regional and multinational cooperation.
• Trade Cooperation: Trade between Israel and other West Asian countries increased 74% between 2021 and 2022.
  • Tourism, mostly non-existent in the past, has skyrocketed. In 2021, visits from Israel to the UAE increased by 172%.
• Commercial and Energy Cooperation: The Prosperity Green & Blue agreement between Israel, the UAE, and Jordan determined that a solar field to supply 600 megawatts of electricity to Israel and a desalination plant in Israel would deliver 200 million cubic meters of water to Jordan.
• Abraham Accord for Stability: In a region where 65% of the population is under 30 years of age, providing the younger generation with opportunities is a key factor in preventing instability.
  • Young influencers experience each other’s cultures and visit important religious and historic sites while focusing on community building are effective tools for strengthening ties.
  • The Abraham Accord encourages collaboration and education.
    • The UAE incorporated Holocaust education into its school curriculum as a mandatory subject, fostering coexistence and religious tolerance.

Abraham Accord and Peace talk benefits for India:

• Active Engagement with Strong Relations: The Abraham Accords have also opened up exciting opportunities for India and its thriving business community, which maintains strong relations and active engagement with our nations.
• Opportunities for Diaspora: The vibrant Indian diaspora in the Gulf now has the convenience of direct flights between the UAE and Israel, as well as between Israel and Bahrain.
• Opportunities for Students: Indian students are enjoying increased ease of travel, gaining improved access to universities and the opportunity to explore international study programmes.
• Opportunities for Economic Growth due to Abraham Accord: Regional and Multinational Cooperation has resulted in a flow of economic opportunities reaching India.
  • Example: There is witnessing substantial commercial collaborations between companies from the UAE, Israel, Bahrain, and the U.S., partnering with the Indian private sector.
• Formation of I2U2 Group: The Abraham Accords made the I2U2 Group possible, and its primary focus will be on joint investments in critical areas such as water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.

Conclusion:

• The Abraham Accords have shown unity’s power to inspire. They offer a window into the potential future of the region and demonstrate that when the leaders and ordinary citizens prioritize peace and cooperation, a far better future is possible.