The Abraham Accords, signed by Israel and four Arab states in 2020, were one of President Donald Trump’s most renowned foreign policy successes. But what type of peace has emerged following the Abraham Accords? Departing from the four dimensions of peace, this article aims to problematize the peace created after the Abraham Accords.
The analysis shows that change in relations between elites and publics during the two years that has followed since the signing of the accords escapes easy categorization. Trade and tourism have increased significantly, and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco have made alterations in their education about the Holocaust. All this points to a warmer and more recognitional peace than the peace Israel has enjoyed with Egypt and Jordan.
However, at the same time, local activists that protest the Abraham Accords are regularly abused. This is done not least with the aid of Israeli cyber technology, which is being exported to three of four Arab states that are part of the Abraham Accords.
Finally, the new peace and normalization agreements within the Abraham Accords are part of the modernization strategies of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and even Saudi Arabia for the coming decades. These modernization strategies, which include aspects of liberalization as well, shall, with the possible exception of Sudan, not in any way be confused with democratization.
Here’s a link to the article (in Swedish):