Blog: OCIN the Cloud: Israeli-UAE relations rapidly deepening with Abraham Accord (2)

* You can read full text as follows.

202011AbrahamAccordEnglish.pdf (maeda1.jp)

(Arabic Version)

Nov, 2020

1. Political and diplomatic issues

UAE lifted the Israeli boycott on August 30. In Abu Dhabi, the Abrahamic Family House, a worship facility for the three major monotheistic religions of the Jewish synagogue, Christian church and Islamic mosque, had been constructed last year[1]. On September 3, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) announced that it would open an office in the UAE[2]. Now Jews in US can do business freely with the wealthy Arabs in UAE and neighboring oil-producing countries.

On September 24, the energy ministers of both countries discussed business cooperation on energy and infrastructure[3]. On October 6, foreign ministers of two countries met in Berlin, Germany on the occasion of the ceremony to commemorate the unification of East and West Germany[4]. The peace agreement Abraham Accord was officially ratified by Israel on October 12[5] and by the UAE on October 19[6] respectively.

2. Communication and transportation

Immediately after the announcement of peace agreement, a telephone line was opened between the two countries on August 17[7]. On August 31st, an Israeli Airline flew to Abu Dhabi from Tel Aviv. Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor to the US President and Son-in-law of President Trump, landed on Abu Dhabi Airport with the Israeli delegation[8].

When Jewish Kushner visited the Middle East in June 2019, he presented the Peace of Prosperity plan aimed to the economic development in the Middle East. However, the plan was too much in favor of Israel to accept by Arab countries. They rejected the plan immediately[9]. Kushner had to be off the front stage of Middle Eastern diplomacy for a while. He once again appeared on the stage showing the bilateral treaty between Israel and the UAE. It was his tactic to divide the Arab countries individually. Bahrain and Sudan followed the UAE. There seems to be no doubt that the Kushner’s diplomacy gave President Trump points for the re-election. It was a diplomatic success for President Trump.

On September 4, it was announced that cargo flights would start between Tel Aviv and Dubai. Israeli Airlines would carry agricultural and high-tech products on its Boeing 747[10]. On October 19, the first passenger flight to Tel Aviv departed from Abu Dhabi Airport[11]. Two governments mutually agreed to operate 28 passenger flights a week and 10 cargo flights[12]. Global aviation demand is declining due to COVID-19. It is unclear how much demand for passenger and cargo flights between the UAE and Israel is.