The celebration took place at the embassy of Hungary, the only EU Member State represented at the Abraham Accords signing ceremony in Washington in 2020.
“This celebration marks an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to promote peace and cooperation in the Middle East and to raise awareness of the importance of the Abraham Accords in the European Union,” said Belgia, MP Michael Freilich, who organized the event.
The third anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords was celebrated on Thursday in Brussels.
The historic Abraham Accords, signed on the White House lawn in September 2020, for the first time normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and two Arab states, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with Morocco and Sudan following suit. The agreements have brought tangible benefits in terms of economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and regional security cooperation.
The anniversary of this event was celebrated at the Hungarian embassy under the patronage of Belgian MP Michael Freilich. Hungary was the only EU Member State represented at the Abraham Accords signing ceremony in Washington.
The ceremony brought together the ambassadors of the signatory states: Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and the United States.
The occasion was marked by a series of activities designed to showcase the progress and achievements made since the signing of the Abraham Accords, including a roundtable, a signing ceremony and a musical intermezzo appropriate to the occasion.
“This celebration marks an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to promote peace and cooperation in the Middle East and to raise awareness of the importance of the Abraham Accords in the European Union,” said Michael Freilich.
In his speech, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabr Al Doseri, highlighted the essential role of interfaith dialogue and coexistence in both building and sustaining the momentum of the agreements.
The Ambassador of Morocco, Mohammed Ameur, pointed to the strong cultural ties that existed with Israel even before the start of diplomatic relations, this due to the one million Moroccan Jews who live in Israel. He reflected on the immense achievements over the past three years on so many fronts including economic, academic, cultural, military, agricultural and more.
Israeli Ambassador Idit Rosenzweig Abu: “The Abraham Accords have shown unity’s power to inspire and provide opportunity. They offer a window into a potential future of the region and demonstrate that when both leaders and ordinary citizens prioritize peace and cooperation, a far better future for the Middle East is possible”.
UAE deputy Ambassador Sandra Oweida, spoke about widening the circle of peace and touted the many accomplishments and tangible results for millions of people in the region.
US Ambassador, Michael Adler wrote that “Fostering people-to-people ties is a crucial part of diplomacy. It was a privilege to mark the third anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords, agreements that continue to deepen diplomatic relationships between Israel and Arab states and provide a foundation to tackle shared challenges.”
‘’After decades of failed attempts, the Abraham Accords have not only revived hopes for peace in the Middle East, but have also led to respectful dialogue and meaningful cooperation. This proves that there is no alternative to peace. That is why Hungary has supported and continues to support and encourage the extension of the Abraham Accords,’’ said Tamás Iván Kovács, Ambassador of Hungary to Belgium and Luxembourg.