Abraham Accords countries hold first joint meeting since 2023

Friday 25 - 10:32

By: Azzat Manal

Abraham Accords countries hold first joint meeting since 2023

Senior officials from countries involved in the Abraham Accords gathered in New York on September 24 for their first joint meeting since January 2023, as Washington seeks to revive regional diplomatic cooperation and explore ways to broaden the framework.

The meeting brought together representatives from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, alongside U.S. officials. Kazakhstan also participated for the first time, reflecting its stated interest in joining the Abraham Accords. The gathering was organized by the N7 Foundation, a U.S.-based organization that has facilitated multilateral discussions among the participating countries since 2021.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker led the American delegation. She described the meeting as an important sign that the Abraham Accords were returning to the diplomatic agenda after a period of limited multilateral engagement following the October 2023 attacks and the subsequent Gaza war.

The Abraham Accords were launched during the first Trump administration and led to the establishment or restoration of diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain formally normalized relations with Israel in 2020, while Morocco also restored diplomatic ties with Israel that year.

The New York discussions focused on the future of the framework and possible areas for deeper cooperation. Participants discussed strengthening existing relationships, identifying practical projects and developing forms of cooperation that could bring together countries across the Middle East and beyond.

Kazakhstan's participation added a Central Asian dimension to the discussions. The Kazakh government has said that joining the Abraham Accords is intended to expand cooperation with interested countries while maintaining its stated support for a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where regional diplomacy has been a prominent issue. It also followed recent moves to strengthen bilateral ties between Israel and Morocco, including discussions on upgrading diplomatic representation and expanding economic and transport links.

According to the N7 Foundation, the participants emphasized cooperation, mutual understanding and the pursuit of practical outcomes based on shared interests. The organization said the next phase would focus on developing existing partnerships while creating opportunities for additional countries to participate.

The renewed meeting does not by itself establish new diplomatic agreements, but it provides a forum for the participating governments to discuss the future direction of the Abraham Accords. Its inclusion of Kazakhstan also signals an effort to extend the framework beyond its original Middle Eastern focus and toward wider regional cooperation.