President Donald Trump is correct in urging the six Muslim nations interested in joining the Iran peace agreement to also sign the Abraham Accords and establish relations with Israel. This approach seems to be the most effective way to foster peace and prosperity for Israel and everyone involved.
He made this point during a call with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey, and Jordan, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, who are already part of the agreement.
As he noted on Truth Social, “After all the work the United States has done to put this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory for all these countries to sign the Abraham Accords at least simultaneously.”
This seems reasonable. If a long-term agreement with Iran is the goal, recognizing and accepting Israel shouldn’t be a hurdle. In fact, acknowledging Israel has been essential in progressing to this point and reducing the threat that Tehran poses to its neighbors.
Attempts to undermine Israel have brought failure to every nation that has tried. In contrast, normalizing relations with Jerusalem has provided various benefits to the countries that signed the accords.
For instance, trade between Israel and the UAE significantly increased in the first five years of the agreement, and tourism levels soared.
Meanwhile, the fixation on opposing the Jewish state has distracted much of the Muslim world from pursuing peace, directing energy towards a cause that won’t lead to any productive outcome, even if it seems to triumph.
Due partly to the unconventional diplomacy of the Biden administration, nations like Saudi Arabia express a desire for a Palestinian state before joining the deal. This is just another challenge that President Trump finds himself addressing.
Pursuing a broader peace in the Middle East appears to be the best strategy to counter groups like Hamas, ultimately allowing for prosperity in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Indeed, negotiating a deal with Iran that effectively halts Tehran’s nuclear ambitions is extremely challenging. However, if the Turks, Qataris, and others genuinely want to be involved, they must actively work toward a regional alliance that secures their own futures.
They shouldn’t depend solely on Washington for that. A regional alliance could provide safety, even if a future Democratic president attempts to reinvigorate strategies that favor Tehran over Israel and Sunni Arab interests.
While the president’s call for unity may seem quite idealistic in some aspects, it pragmatically offers these nations a way to break free from the historical entanglements that have kept the region on the edge of catastrophic conflict for over a century.
Ultimately, all Trump is advocating for is giving peace a chance.
