Dozens of American college students visited Israel and the United Arab Emirates over winter break, witnessing firsthand the success of the historic Abraham Accords amid continued campus tensions in China amid ongoing war in Israel.
Forty-three undergraduate students from across the U.S. participated in a 10-day trip to Israel and the UAE through the Israel and Campus Coalition's Geller International Fellowship during the winter semester, according to Fox News Digital. Students met with business leaders, academics, and political leaders to discuss and experience Middle Eastern culture and witnessed first-hand the importance of the Abraham Accords, brokered during President-elect Trump's first administration in 2020. .
“At a time when dialogue on American college campuses like the one I lived in was sparse, witnessing firsthand the success of the Abraham Accords with a group of college students passionate about peace and coexistence was a powerful reminder of what society will look like in the future. It was a poignant and critical reminder that the Middle East can be sustained,'' Eden Yadegar, a fourth-year student at Columbia University who studies the Middle East, told Fox News Digital.
“Peace, security and coexistence are not distant ideals, but thanks to the United States, Israel and the UAE, they have become a reality. The future of the Middle East is here and bright. I am deeply grateful to Israel.” The Campus Coalition provided me with the opportunity to participate in meaningful conversations and experiences. ”
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Fellows visited the UAE and Israel as part of the Geller International Fellowship. (ICC)
The Abraham Accords are a historic peace agreement between Israel and the UAE brokered by the United States in 2020. As part of the agreement, the UAE and Bahrain recognized Israeli sovereignty and established full diplomatic relations. This is the first time Israel has established peace with an Arab country since the 1994 Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty.
“This historic diplomatic breakthrough advances peace in the region and reflects the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders, and the new path for the United Arab Emirates and Israel to unlock the region's great potential. '' President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE, said in a joint statement at the time. “All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today's historic achievements.”
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The signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords was held at the White House on September 13, 2020. (Getty)
The students who participated in the fellowship worked with experts such as Israeli politician and diplomat Ruth Wasserman Rand and Middle East expert and lecturer Dan Pfefferman, as well as experts on entrepreneurship in the Middle East after the peace agreement. In addition to discussing coexistence, they also met with experts from the National Defense Foundation and other organizations. Democracy Senior Fellow Jonathan Conrics and Saudi YouTuber Roai Alsharef discuss treaty-based diplomacy and peacebuilding.
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American university students who participated in this fellowship met with experts from both Israel and the UAE and witnessed the success of the Abraham Accords. (ICC)
“The Geller International Fellowship highlights the promise of the next generation of pro-Israel leaders and their potential to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship and advance the principles of the Abraham Accords,” said Jacob of the Israel on Campus Coalition.・CEO Baim told FOX News Digital. “Thanks to the generosity of Martin and Lauren Geller, this program will give students a deeper understanding of the complexities of Israel and provide a foundation for informed advocacy. Fellows return to campus with a renewed sense of purpose and a determination to share their experiences.This fellowship is a continuation of the ICC's efforts to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations and develop new leaders. It reflects our efforts.”
The Israel on Campus Coalition is a U.S.-based organization that Inspiring American College Students And pro-Israel university groups are calling for “empowering students to see Israel as a source of pride and stand up for it on campus.”
The Israel on Campus Coalition encourages American college students and pro-Israel college groups to “see Israel as a source of pride and empower them to stand up for Israel on campus.” (ICC)
Aidan Bloomstein, a fourth-year public policy student at the University of Southern California, told FOX Digital that the trip was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and that “one day this region will live in peace and prosperity.” He said that he has rekindled his optimism that “this will happen.”
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“These basic principles were perfectly demonstrated during this visit. Hearing firsthand from Emiratis and Israelis about the successes of diplomatic and economic cooperation is a well-paved path towards peace for the rest of the region.” ,” the ICC fellow continued.
More than 40 American students visited Israel and the UAE as part of the Geller International Fellowship. (ICC)
Sam Heller, a fourth-year student at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, also said that anti-Semitism is widespread and repeated on U.S. college campuses, especially after war breaks out in Israel in 2023. He agreed with Bloomstein that the fellowship and the trip abroad were “one of the most transformative experiences I've had.” -Israel protests.
“It has been an inspiration to me to be surrounded by like-minded campus leaders who are working diligently to ensure the dissemination of truth during this difficult time since the 10/7 Hamas massacre. It's also reassuring. It gives us confidence that our next generation of leaders will come to our universities.”Israel continues to uphold Western values and is America's closest ally. I would definitely support a certain Israel. I am deeply grateful to the ICC for giving me the opportunity to engage with experts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and those dedicated to promoting peace in the Middle East. East, I look forward to watching this remarkable group of young leaders develop into policy,” said Heller.
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Last year, agitators and student demonstrators flooded university campuses across the country to protest the war in Israel, including Spike. examples of antisemitism And Jewish students have publicly voiced that they don't feel safe on some campuses.
American students traveled to the UAE and Israel over winter break to hear from experts about the Abraham Accords. (ICC)
For example, protesters on Columbia University's campus in New York City occupied the school's Hamilton Hall, while schools such as UCLA, Harvard University, and Yale University held protests as protesters demanded the elite school's complete withdrawal from Israel. , worked to clear the swirling student camps.
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The terrorist organization Hamas, which started the war in Israel on October 7, 2023, initially fanned the flames of anti-Semitism on campus in the form of protests, threatened graffiti, and students accused them of He reported that he felt as if it was a period of religious liberation. campus. ” The protests escalated to the point where Jewish students at some schools, including Columbia University, were warned to leave campus for their own safety.
On the University of Pennsylvania campus, anti-Israel radicals circulated multiple guides instructing agitators on how to break into buildings, “escalate” protests, create weapons and even administer first aid, Fox News said. Digital exclusively reported this in May.
In comments to Fox Digital, the fellowship's sponsors, Martin and Lauren Geller, emphasized that the program will help the next generation strengthen the principles outlined in the Abraham Accords. .
Martin and Lauren Geller sponsored American students for international fellowships. (ICC)
“The Geller International Fellowship is more than just a program, it is an educational investment in the next generation of leaders who are committed to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship and the principles of the Abraham Accords. We are honored to partner with Israel on Campus Coalition. Through outstanding leadership, students learn about Israel's heritage, innovation, and resilience. We are honored to support this fellowship, which will help us gain innovative understanding and prepare these talented individuals to become leaders in the pro-Israel movement on campus and in our communities. We are inspired by the impact these students have as advocates for Israel on and off campus,” the couple said. Martin Geller is the founder and chairman of the wealth management firm Geller & Company.
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Ahead of Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in last year's election, both the former president and the president-elect said on the campaign trail that they planned to expand on the Abraham Accords if reelected. Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated as the 47th president on January 20th.
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President Trump said of the Abraham Accords in an interview with Saudi media: “If I win, that will be my absolute priority. Just getting everyone on board. Peace in the Middle East. We need that. “Yes, it is very important. It will definitely happen.” Al Arabiya in October.
