Five years after the Abraham Accords normalized relations between four Arab nations and Israel, the historic agreements are in murky waters.
Its many proponents have been waiting for Saudi Arabia to join the pact, which is unlikely as long as the war in Gaza continues. However, even if Riyadh joins tomorrow, a larger question remains: What is the future of the accords after peace?
The Abraham Accords were much more than a peace agreement with Israel. They were the culmination of a regional pivot—the choice to pursue a policy of tolerance and regional stability rather than continue the hatred and sectarianism that have wrought so much havoc in the Middle East and the Muslim world.
To continue this movement, the accords must evolve beyond warm bilateral ties into a multilateral alliance—a bloc of Muslim-majority countries with warm relations with Israel, united not just by shared interests, but by shared values. Specifically, a commitment to tolerance, peace, and fighting Islamic extremism.
A first move should be to include Muslim-majority countries that already have warm ties with Israel, like Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Uzbekistan.
With US support, the bloc could help the Abraham Accords movement reach its full potential. The created alliance could then serve as the nucleus for a powerful global movement grounded in tolerance, modernization, and strategic cooperation.
A needed framework
Currently, the Abraham Accords are just a document affirming the commitment of the signatory countries—the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan—to peace, tolerance, and cooperation. Bilateral agreements were subsequently signed between Israel and the signatories separately.
But to bring the accords to the next level, the signatory countries must institute a framework, possibly similar to the BRICS model—or the intergovernmental organization including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE—that would help foster further cooperation.
BRICS has no defining charter, secretariat, or common funds and relies on consensus-based decisions. However, it has a clear goal: to bring together emerging economies, increase their global influence, promote a multipolar global order, and reduce dependence on Western-dominated institutions. This framework has facilitated cooperation amongst BRICS countries to advance their goals.
The Abraham Accords coalition could adopt a similar model, with the goal of promoting interreligious and interethnic tolerance, moderate versions of Islam, and increased cooperation among its members. Once a framework is in place, the bloc should meet annually to discuss priorities, like joint counter-terrorism initiatives and educational and cultural exchanges. Most importantly, it should give each member an equal voice and make decisions by consensus. To avoid dominance by a single country, leadership should be rotational, and administrative and technical functions should be managed by a neutral secretariat.
While the rotating country chair would provide strategic leadership and agenda-setting, the secretariat could focus on ensuring clear communication between members, progress on initiatives, and support for annual summits.
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Joseph Epstein is the director of the Turan Research Center and a Senior Fellow at Yorktown Institute.
