Since 2020, Kian Kohanteb had been captivated by the groundbreaking Abraham Accords. Eager to deepen his understanding of them, he immersed himself in lectures, podcasts and articles.
At the start of the new year, he got to experience the effects of them firsthand as a fellow with the Geller International Fellowship, part of Israel on Campus Coalition. Along with 42 other students, he traveled to Israel and the UAE from December 30 to January 9 to learn about the Abraham Accords and the efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.
“The notion that four Arab nations had finally recognized Israel’s right to exist fascinated me,” said Kohanteb, a senior majoring in political science at UCLA. “However, no amount of research could compare to the transformative experience of witnessing the Abraham Accords in action during my trip to the UAE.”
As a Geller fellow with the pro-Israel ICC, Kohanteb is part of a cohort of students from college campuses across the United States. They participate in a six-month program, learning about Israel from the experts and engaging in critical conversations surrounding the U.S.-Israel relationship as well as the Abraham Accords. The trip to the UAE is the culmination of the fellowship.
The Geller fellows, who are made up of Jewish and non-Jewish students, toured around hotspots in Israel and the UAE like the Old City in Jerusalem, Shuk Hacarmel in Tel Aviv, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding in Dubai, the Presidential Palace (Qasr Al Watan) in Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the UAE.
In between visiting must-see sights, the fellows heard from influential leaders like Eric Reiner of Vine Ventures, who spoke about venture capital and international operations, Former Member of the Israeli Knesset Ruth Wasserman Lande and Loay Alsharef, a Saudi peace activist.
One of the most powerful moments was going to the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, where the fellows went a tour led by Chief Rabbi of the UAE, Rabbi Levi Duchman.
“Seeing a synagogue built by the Emirati government on behalf of the Jewish community was profoundly moving,” Kohanteb said. “It was a tangible demonstration of the UAE’s commitment not only to recognizing Israel but also to fostering reconciliation with Jewish communities worldwide.”
“Seeing a synagogue built by the Emirati government on behalf of the Jewish community was profoundly moving.”
Simone Beilin, a senior at UC Berkeley majoring in economics welcomed the trip, because it was an inspiring contrast to the darkness she’d experienced on campus since October 7.
“Today’s college campuses may feel like a cesspool of ignorant hatred and antisemitism. This fellowship reminded me that progress is not only possible, but actively happening,” she said.
Another Geller fellow, Eunho Jung, a junior majoring in political science at UPenn, was touched by the group’s visit to Hostage Square in Tel Aviv and the sites of the Oct. 7 massacre.
“These experiences made me more resolute in fighting back against the anti-Israel hate on our college campuses and beyond, especially as a non-Jewish student,” she said. “It is unfathomable to me that there are American citizens still held hostage in Gaza today. Nevertheless, I am inspired by the resilience of the citizens of Israel.”
The goal of the Geller fellowship is to show the fellows Israel and the UAE up close and broaden their understanding of the region. Along with going on the trip, what the fellows get is solidarity with pro-Israel peers, which is so critical at a time when antisemitism is running rampant on college campuses.
“These fellows return to campus with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to sharing their experiences,” said Jacob Baime, the CEO of ICC . “This fellowship reflects ICC’s ongoing work to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship and develop new leaders.”
For Kohanteb, the trip offered a glimmer of hope for a brighter future ahead.
“After a challenging year at UCLA marked by extremist protests and divisive campus encampments, this trip offered a powerful reminder that peace is not just a distant ideal—it is an attainable reality,” he said. “Witnessing these groundbreaking efforts firsthand has renewed my hope that more countries in the region will join the Abraham Accords and that lasting peace will spread throughout the Middle East.”
