September 13, 2024 — New York, NY
As the world commemorates the fourth anniversary of the Abraham Accords, American Jewish Committee (AJC) honors the sentiments of that day and remains committed to the pursuit of a more peaceful Middle East.
“September 15, 2020, marked a turning point in the relationship between Israel and the Arab world,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “Together with the United States, the leaders of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain united in embracing a vision of cooperation, innovation, and shared prosperity, casting aside decades of regional enmity and missed opportunities for progress. In the eleven months since October 7, which saw the massacre of 1,200 innocent Israelis and the kidnapping of more than over 250 people at the hands of Hamas terrorists, news in the Middle East has been dominated by heartbreak and violence. As Israel seeks the return of its loved ones and the restoration of its security on multiple fronts, AJC remains committed to the promise of the Abraham Accords.”
For more than three decades, AJC has worked tirelessly to foster understanding and deepen trust between Israelis and Palestinians, and Jews and Arabs. Since its establishment in 2021, AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding has built on this legacy, nurturing relationships dedicated to a new, more integrated Middle East, based on the principle that long-term security can only come through the construction of stronger bonds.
“It is a tribute to the bold leaders of the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain – and the Kingdom of Morocco, which also normalized relations with Israel in 2020 – that the strategic choice made four years ago, the choice to integrate Israel into the Middle East and collectively meet the region’s challenges, continues to guide policy and continues to inspire all who strive for a better and more hopeful future for the peoples of the region,” said Jason Isaacson, Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer and Director of AJC’s Center for a New Middle East. “AJC is honored to partner with all those across the Middle East who share those leaders’ commitment.”
With the just-announced launch of its Center for a New Middle East, AJC has intensified its commitment to ensuring the success of the Abraham Accords, and building and expanding the organization’s long-term connections throughout the region. The Center’s establishment reflects AJC’s belief that while Arab-Israeli engagement is more difficult in a period of conflict, it is also more critical.
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
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