Israel to host US, Arab diplomats in ‘Abraham Accords’ summit

Conferences will embody US Secretary of State Blinken, diplomats from Arab states which have normalised ties with Israel.

Flags of Israel and Arab countries.
Israel normalised relations with the UAE and different Arab international locations as a part of the Abraham Accords in August 2020 [File: Avi Ohayon/Israel Government Press Office via AP]

Israel stated it should host a “historic summit” starting on Sunday, with the participation of prime diplomats from the US and three Arab states with which it has normalised ties.

“On the invitation of Overseas Minister Yair Lapid, this upcoming Sunday and Monday … a historic diplomatic summit can be held in Israel,” the Israeli international ministry stated on Friday.

A collection of diplomatic conferences can be attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, it stated, with out giving additional particulars.

The United Arab Emirates normalised ties with Israel in 2020 underneath a collection of US-brokered offers often called the Abraham Accords.

Bahrain and Morocco adopted swimsuit, whereas Sudan additionally agreed to normalise ties with Israel, though it has but to finalise a deal.

The agreements, reached underneath former US President Donald Trump, broke with many years of Arab consensus that there can be no relations with Israel whereas the Palestinian query stays unresolved.

However the Arab international locations which have normalised ties stated they had been motivated by the financial advantages of building official relations with Israel, regardless of opposition from the Palestinians.

In a separate growth, Jordanian state media stated King Abdullah II would host Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi’s highly effective crown prince, within the southern Jordanian metropolis of Aqaba on Friday.

The upcoming talks come in opposition to the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a battle that has sparked wider safety considerations, and despatched oil and meals costs hovering.

Affect of Ukraine struggle

It additionally follows a three-way summit hosted by Egypt on Tuesday on the Purple Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh between el-Sisi, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and Crown Prince Mohammed.

Egypt was the primary Arab nation to signal a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, after many years of enmity and battle. Jordan adopted swimsuit in 1994.

It was not instantly recognized the place the highest diplomats would meet in Israel.

However the talks are being organised to coincide with a regional tour by Blinken as a consequence of start on Saturday.

The US secretary of state is because of maintain talks with the Bennett earlier than assembly Palestinian chief Mahmoud Abbas at his Ramallah headquarters within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution.

Blinken can be as a consequence of go to Algeria and Morocco at a time when the area is reeling from the backlash of Russia’s struggle on Ukraine.

“We all know this ache is keenly felt within the Center East and North Africa, the place most international locations import a minimum of half of their wheat,” a lot of it from Ukraine, Division of State Appearing Assistant Secretary Yael Lempert informed reporters in Washington.

Whereas in Morocco, Blinken can be as a consequence of meet Crown Prince Mohammed, the Division of State stated.

Blinken’s go to additionally comes amid Israeli efforts to mediate an answer to the struggle in Ukraine, which has left either side with heavy losses, and exhibits no indicators of abating.

It additionally comes because the US is near reaching an settlement with Iran to revive the 2015 accord limiting Tehran’s nuclear growth programme, in return for eradicating sanctions on the nation.

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