As we reflect on the first anniversary of the Abraham Accords, American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy are honored to announce a new partnership to promote deeper American, Israeli, and Emirati understanding.
The announcement on Aug. 13, 2020 that the United Arab Emirates and Israel had agreed to move toward full diplomatic relations surprised much of the world. What culminated last summer had deep roots. My American Jewish Committee colleagues and I, traveling regularly to Gulf capitals since 1994, observed signs of fresh thinking in the region early on—and did our part to encourage it.
The Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) and American Jewish Committee (AJC) hosted a virtual session to mark the first anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords, as part of an educational cooperation that aims to explore the multidimensional components of emerging Emirati-Israeli relations. The cooperation between AGDA and AJC includes five webinars, where the two organizations will engage the next generation of American, Israeli, and Emirati leaders in political, economic, scientific, and diplomatic discussions, about the future of Israeli-Arab engagement in the Middle East.
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, discussed UAE-Israel ties, peace in the Middle East, and more with AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson, as part of the AJC Virtual Global Forum 2021 plenary dedicated to the memory of longtime AJC Leader Sidney Lerner.
At AJC Virtual Global Forum 2021, attendees heard a special announcement establishing AJC's 13th international office, AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding, and introducing its director, Ambassador Marc J. Sievers Director, as part of the AJC Virtual Global Forum 2021 plenary dedicated to the memory of longtime AJC Leader Sidney Lerner.