It has been almost a year since the signing of the Abraham Accords on Sept.15, 2020 in the White House. What distinguishes this peace agreement from previous ones is its emphasis on "warm peace", also known as a "people's peace."
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Numerous deals have been made since the signing of this peace treaty, but one particularly exciting outcome that reflects the agreement's commitment to "warm peace" has been the establishment of a non-governmental organization called "Sharaka", which means "partnership" in Arabic. Events undertaken by "Sharaka" have demonstrated that good relationships between people help peace agreements accomplish their ultimate goal.
Recently, members from Sharaka – and I joined them as a guest – visited the United States between July 29 and August 5 to explain to the general public in the United States the importance of a "people's peace" and that a peace process is not complete unless it involves ordinary people. The group had Shabbat dinners with very hospitable and accomplished American Jewish families, highlighting how we are all from the same patriarch of the three monotheistic Abrahamic religions and demonstrating that our similarities outweigh our differences.
In addition, Sharaka members met with extremely prestigious individuals and organizations in the three states they visited: New York, Boston and Atlanta. This included: the Israeli consulates in the three states, the American Sephardic Association, the American Jewish Committee, the Israel American Council, the Moishe House for young Jewish professionals, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Also, Sharaka members were interviewed by prominent journalists from the magazines Tablet and Forward and were introduced to distinguished professors from Northeastern University and Emory University. Besides that, members visited Synagogues and Churches to reach out to Jewish and non-Jewish communities in the United States.
Throughout the panel discussions, the group recognized that there are certain narratives in the public domain that need to be modified, such as highlighting that this peace treaty is authentic and not just a diplomatic agreement or a deal between governments, like previous ones. Also, it needs to be clarified that this peace treaty is not only about Iran or about the UAE wanting to purchase F35 or a publicity stunt for Trump or Netanyahu, the leaders who were then in power, but it is a warm peace that includes the people whom it is designed to protect.
Sharaka members tried to explain to the public that this peace treaty is multi-layered and that the Arabs are not a homogenous unit but have different approaches to peace-building. The traditional approach has been to view the resolution of the conflict as a prerequisite for normalization of relations, but this new approach turns this on its head; that normalization of relations especially between people, can be the pathway towards a solution.
The peace process has been in a state of stalemate for many decades; accordingly, thinking outside the box is necessary to reinvigorate a stagnant pond. Most importantly, Arabs must be viewed as facilitators in resolving the conflict and not just a mouthpiece for the Palestinians. The conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians needs to be kept under control so that it will not be exploited by opportunists.
The main thing that I deduced from the meetings and discussions on our visit to the United States is that the Abraham Accords are a win-win situation and each and every country that signed it will benefit from its success. In general, Israel needs the Abraham Accords countries if it is to build trust in the region, especially among the Arab Muslim public, while the Abraham Accords countries need Israel internationally, especially to reach out to the general public in the United States, in particular, the Jewish communities and their allies because of the influence they have on decision-makers.
A bottom-up approach to reaching the general public in the United States is through the media and academia. Therefore, our interviews and meetings with high-profile journalists and academics were critical for clarifying misconceptions and facing down challenges from anti-peace advocates. But the main thing is to explain to the American public that the warm peace embodied in the Abraham Accords and Sharaka can play a vital role in enhancing national security in the United States and reducing its military presence in the Middle East and North Africa region.
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