Abraham Accords are no longer Arab–Israeli accords - opinion

The Abraham Accords were not born in isolation. They were the result of years of quiet diplomacy, courage, and a new way of thinking about the region’s future. For decades, peace in the Middle East was framed through the narrow lens of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Many believed that normalization with Israel was impossible without resolving that issue first. Yet, the accords shattered this paradigm by proving that Arab nations could pursue their own sovereign interests and vision of peace without waiting for external permission.

The UAE’s historic decision in 2020 was not simply about diplomacy – it was about redefining what peace could mean in the modern era. It showed that peace is not just the absence of war; it is the presence of cooperation, innovation, and people-to-people connection. The UAE and Israel have since built partnerships across technology, tourism, education, agriculture, and renewable energy. Joint ventures have flourished. Flights connect Tel Aviv and Dubai daily. Emiratis and Israelis have come to see each other not as distant others, but as neighbors.

Then came Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan – each with its own motivations, but all guided by the same principle: the region cannot afford perpetual hostility. The accords began to symbolize not just reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis, but a broader realignment – a rejection of extremism and a celebration of pragmatism.

Kazakhstan and Israel have maintained diplomatic relations since 1992, shortly after Kazakhstan’s independence. Over the past three decades, they have developed strong ties in agriculture, technology, healthcare, and defense. Israeli drip-irrigation technology helped Kazakhstan modernize its farming sector. Israeli medical experts have shared knowledge and training in hospitals in Almaty and Astana. Cultural exchanges and academic partnerships have flourished quietly but steadily.

Moreover, Kazakhstan is home to a small but vibrant Jewish community that enjoys freedom and respect – a rarity in much of the post-Soviet space. The Kazakh government has long championed religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue. Its capital, Astana, hosts the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, a forum that brings together religious figures from across the globe, including rabbis, imams, and priests, under one roof.

In this light, Kazakhstan’s decision to join the Abraham Accords is a natural progression, not an anomaly. It reflects its deep-seated belief in coexistence and peace. It also broadens the accords’ scope from being a Middle Eastern initiative to an international one – showing that the spirit of Abraham belongs not to one people or region, but to all humanity.

But history has its own rhythm, and truth has its own resilience. One year later, instead of isolating Israel or reversing normalization, we see the opposite. More countries are embracing dialogue and cooperation. Kazakhstan’s entry into the Abraham Accords sends a powerful message: Sinwar failed. The forces of peace and progress are stronger than the forces of hate and destruction.

Saudi Arabia – long seen as the ultimate prize in this peace journey – remains in the audience for now, watching from the crowd seats. But make no mistake: Riyadh’s silence is strategic, not rejectionist. The Kingdom has already taken significant steps toward engagement, allowing Israeli flights to cross its airspace, hosting quiet talks with American and Israeli officials, and expressing a desire for broader regional stability.

Saudi Arabia understands that its future – and indeed the Arab world’s future – lies not in perpetuating old animosities, but in shaping a new regional order based on technology, investment, and youth-driven optimism. The day will come when Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, joins the accords. And when that happens, it will not merely be a diplomatic milestone – it will be a civilizational one.

Egypt was the pioneer of peace with Israel. In 1979, when President Anwar Sadat signed the Camp David Accords, he broke a psychological barrier that had defined the Arab world for decades. For his courage, he paid the ultimate price with his life. But the peace he established endured – and it remains one of the region’s cornerstones.

However, four decades later, Egypt’s peace with Israel is still largely government-to-government. The people-to-people connection remains shallow. Cultural, academic, and tourism exchanges are limited. Many Egyptians still view Israel with suspicion, shaped by generations of state-controlled narratives and educational biases.

This must change. Egypt cannot afford to watch passively while other nations build genuine friendships with Israel – friendships rooted in mutual respect and collaboration. The success of the Abraham Accords should serve as both an inspiration and a warning: peace is no longer measured merely by treaties, but by the warmth of relations between ordinary citizens.

As Emiratis and Israelis post selfies together in Tel Aviv and Dubai, as Bahrainis and Israelis celebrate Hanukkah and Ramadan side by side, Egypt risks appearing frozen in time. The younger generation of Egyptians, who dream of travel, innovation, and global connection, deserves a more open and dynamic relationship with Israel – one that reflects the possibilities of the 21st century, not the fears of the 20th.

With Kazakhstan’s entry, the Abraham Accords have officially outgrown their original definition. They are no longer “Arab–Israeli” accords. They are a coalition of nations – Arab and non-Arab, Muslim and Jewish, Middle Eastern and Central Asian – bound by a shared vision of coexistence.

This expanding family sends a clear message to the world: peace is not an exclusive club. Any nation that believes in dialogue, tolerance, and partnership can join. The name “Abraham” itself carries this universal spirit. Abraham – known as Ibrahim in Islam and Avraham in Judaism – is revered as the father of monotheism, a man who welcomed strangers into his tent and sought harmony among peoples.

In today’s fractured world, that message is more relevant than ever. The Abraham Accords are proving that religious and cultural diversity need not be a source of division – it can be the foundation of unity.

The inclusion of Kazakhstan also strengthens the strategic dimension of the accords. Central Asia, long viewed as a distant frontier, is becoming increasingly important in global politics, trade, and energy. By linking the Middle East with Central Asia, the accords create new corridors of connectivity that could reshape the region’s economic map.

Imagine trade routes linking Haifa to Almaty, technology exchanges connecting Abu Dhabi and Astana, or cultural forums where Arabs, Jews, and Central Asians share their stories of heritage and hope. This is not a dream – it is the emerging reality of a multipolar world where cooperation replaces confrontation.

For Israel, the expansion of the accords means greater legitimacy and new markets. For the Muslim world, it means reclaiming the narrative of moderation and leadership. For the global community, it means witnessing a model of peace that defies the cynicism of the past.

The Abraham Accords began as an Arab–Israeli initiative, but they have matured into something universal – a movement that transcends geography and ethnicity. With Kazakhstan’s entry, they now stretch from the Persian Gulf to the Eurasian steppes, uniting people under the shared values of faith, innovation, and coexistence.

Extremists like Sinwar may try to burn bridges, but others are busy building them. Governments may sign treaties, but it is people who sustain peace. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and others now face a choice: remain on the sidelines, or embrace the new wave of openness that is sweeping the region.

The message from Astana, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Rabat, and Jerusalem is simple yet profound: Peace works. Normalization works. Dialogue works.

The Abraham Accords are no longer just Arab–Israeli accords – they are the blueprint for a new world order where nations define themselves not by who they fight, but by what they build together.

And that, in the truest sense, is the legacy of Abraham.