Jewish Groups and Others Celebrate Signing of Agreements Between Israel, UAE, Bahrain

The Abraham Accords were lauded as "historic."

[additional-authors]

Aaron Bandler

September 15, 2020

(L-R) Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on September 15, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Jewish groups issued various statements to celebrate the official signing of agreements establishing relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.

The signing ceremony took place at the White House on Sept. 15, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed and Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani in attendance.

The Anti-Defamation League tweeted, “Today we celebrate the historic signing of agreements between Israel and the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain that usher in a new era of open and normalized relations between the Jewish state & these nations.”

Today we celebrate the historic signing of agreements between Israel and the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain that usher in a new era of open and normalized relations between the Jewish state & these nations. https://t.co/s1F9xkhiiK

— ADL (@ADL) September 15, 2020

The American Jewish Committee echoed, “Today we celebrate Emirati and Bahraini leaders for their courage and foresight, Israeli leaders for their ability to seize the great potential of peace, and American leaders for their essential role in facilitating these welcome outcomes.”

Today we celebrate Emirati and Bahraini leaders for their courage and foresight, Israeli leaders for their ability to seize the great potential of peace, and American leaders for their essential role in facilitating these welcome outcomes. https://t.co/t4xdMWeF63

— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) September 15, 2020

But the praise wasn’t universal. The Jewish Democratic Council of America said in a statement that although it welcomed the agreements between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, the pacts shouldn’t distract from President Donald Trump’s “divisive reckless” foreign policy, citing Trump’s willingness to sell weapons to the UAE as an example.

“Israelis and Palestinians are further today from achieving a two-state solution and Iran is closer to acquiring a nuclear weapon than four years ago,” the statement read. “Trump’s abysmal foreign policy record must be viewed in its totality, not through the lens of a photo-op intentionally arranged less than 50 days before an election. Once again, U.S. policy toward Israel has been politicized by Donald Trump to serve his own agenda, and Jewish voters reject Trump’s political approach to Israel. Perhaps that’s why Trump conceded a few weeks ago that he moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem ‘for the Evangelicals.’ ”

We welcome the normalization of ties between Israel, the UAE, & Bahrain.

This photo-op doesn't make one of the most reckless & divisive presidents in US history a peacemaker, & doesn't answer questions about Israel's qualitative military edge.

Statement: https://t.co/6leGTWORwc pic.twitter.com/xB3BtEU7Gw

— Jewish Dems (@USJewishDems) September 15, 2020

The timing of the pacts also comes at a politically advantageous time for Netanyahu, who faces mass street protests in Israel against his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, a fracturing unity coalition government and a trial set to begin in early 2021 on several corruption charges.

But none of that dampened the enthusiasm in other circles.

Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda at the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) Rabbi Abraham Cooper also said in a statement, “Tears of joy to witness the White House signing of UAE/Bahrain/Israel peace pacts and so proud that we at SWC contributed to this great day.”

StandWithUs tweeted, “A truly historic moment for peace in the Middle East!”

#BREAKING: Israel, the UAE and Bahrain have officially signed the peace deal at the White House.

A truly historic moment for peace in the Middle East!#AbrahamAccords #IsraelBahrain #IsraelUAE

— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) September 15, 2020

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. National President Rhoda Smolow said in a statement that with the signing of the agreements, Hadassah is establishing “new relationships of its own with medical professionals and institutions in both nations. Working together, we can learn from each other and improve the health and well-being of people around the world who seek care at Hadassah’s hospitals in Jerusalem, or at medical facilities in the UAE or Bahrain.”

She added that on Oct. 1, there will be a meeting between experts from major hospitals and institutions from the U.S, Israel and the UAE about pediatric care, including Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi and John Hopkins.

“This meeting is the first of what we hope will be countless new connections made possible by the Abraham Accords that will improve life for people around the world,” Smolow said. “A stronger, brighter future is within reach for leaders with a hunger for peace, courage in their hearts, and a vision for making the impossible possible.”

The Israeli-American Council said in a statement, “This is the culmination of the hard work and dedication of the United States, Israel, and both Gulf states in striving to create a more peaceful Middle East. We are thankful for the leadership of President Trump and the U.S. administration in brokering these historic agreements. Both Israel and the US administration have expressed their hope and desire for peace with additional countries in the region and the IAC calls on other Arab countries to follow suit. These historic agreements are proof that the path toward a more prosperous Middle East is through recognition and cooperation rather than through isolation and extremism.”

Christians United for Israel chairman and and founder Pastor John Hagee said in a statement that the signing of the Abraham Accord shows that “the so-called Arab-Israeli conflict is increasingly an anachronism. Israel is strong and flourishing, and the Arab world is coming to see the Jewish state not as a foe, but as an ally against Iran and a partner for peace and prosperity.

“It is my sincere hope and prayer that other Arab nations will follow the UAE and Bahrain’s lead and that the Palestinian leadership in particular will accept that peace with Israel is the only path forward.”

The European Leadership Network (ELNET) called on European nations “to adjust to the new realities in the Middle East” and embrace Israel establishing relations with the Gulf Arab nations.

“While ELNET acknowledges European concerns regarding the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it urges Europe to approach Israeli-Arab normalization as a potential catalyst for future Israeli-Palestinian peace, keeping the window open for negotiations while providing the parties with the necessary support toward reaching a solution,” the nongovernmental organization said in a statement. “ELNET will continue to engage its European counterparts to impress on them the need to recognize the new, positive realities in an otherwise highly troubled Middle East.”

Democratic Majority for Israel CEO and President Mark Mellman called the agreements in a statement “an important step toward peace in the region,” highlighting the fact that the Israeli government will be halting its plans to annex portions of the West Bank as part of the agreements.

“More and more countries, once at best skeptical of Israel, are recognizing both the mutual benefits of having a strong relationship with Israel and Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state in peace and security,” Mellman said. “We can only hope the Palestinian Authority comes to similar conclusions so that a [Joe] Biden administration will be able to bring the Palestinians back to the table and facilitate a two-state solution. It’s sadly telling that Hamas responded to today’s agreements by firing rockets at Israeli civilians from Gaza.”

Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director Matt Brooks applauded Trump “for his dedication to true and lasting peace in the Middle East” in a statement.

“The UAE-Israel treaty and the Bahrain-Israel treaty demonstrate that the countries in these regions are moving toward real peace with Israel,” Brooks wrote. “After decades of failed diplomacy and bloodshed, the Middle East is at the dawn of a historic moment, when Israel and its neighbors will benefit from cooperation in trade, security, technology, and other fields that will make life better for peoples all across the region.”