The US “remains steadfast in its support for a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Middle East” as the historic Abraham Accords mark their third anniversary on Friday.
The landmark agreements established relations between Israel and a number of Arab countries.
The UAE and Bahrain signed the accords, brokered by the US, in September 2020 to establish formal ties with Israel.
Sudan and Morocco followed suit and talks are continuing with Saudi Arabia.
“Normalisation between our allies in the region has been transformational for Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco,” the US State Department said.
“On this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to the goal of expanding and deepening opportunities for integration represented by the accords.”
The department said subsequent partnerships such as the Negev Forum and the I2U2 partnership of India, Israel, the UAE and the US strengthened shared capabilities and fostered the collaboration necessary to meet today’s challenges and opportunities.
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Emirati Majed Al Seyabi is keen to be a part of building ties with the Israeli people and companies as part of the Abraham Accords. Victor Besa / The National -
Emirati engineer Reem Al Musabbeh visited Israel and wants to replicate a successful ecosystem to grow start-ups in the UAE. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Emirati engineer Reem Al Musabbeh is working to build partnerships with technology companies in Israel. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Emirati Majed Al Seyabi during a visit to Jerusalem earlier this year. Photo: Majed Al Seyabi -
Emirati Majed Al Seyabi at the holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem. The Abu Dhabi resident believes wants to initiate deeper ties with the Jewish community. Photo: Majed Al Seyabi -
Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former US president Donald Trump, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani and UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the White House after the signing of the Abraham Accords in Washington on September 15, 2020. AFP
All eyes are now on Saudi Arabia to see whether it will forge its own agreement to establish relations with a country it has never formally recognised.
There are indications Riyadh may be open to an agreement with Israel, but it has long maintained that it will not establish formal ties until Israel makes progress in attaining peace with Palestinians and embracing a two-state solution along pre-1967 lines.
The accords have ushered in an unprecedented era of co-operation between Israel and parts of the Arab world.
US President Joe Biden’s administration was initially tepid in its public praise of the Abraham Accords, a signature achievement of the Donald Trump era.
However, it soon embraced the agreements and sought to build on them by including other countries.
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Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, speaks to Donald Trump, US president at the time, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office in September 2020. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state at the time. Wam -
Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Pompeo in Washington. Wam -
Sheikh Abdullah visits Washington in September last year. Wam -
Sheikh Abdullah, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, US President Donald Trump, centre, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sign the Abraham Accord at the White House South Lawn. MOFAIC -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the White House. MOFAIC -
Sheikh Abdullah, Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu at the White House during the Abraham Accord signing ceremony. MOFAIC -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump and Mr Al Zayani wave from the Truman Balcony at the White House. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump sign the Abraham Accord. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah speaks as Mr Trump looks on before the signing of Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AP -
Sheikh Abdullah looks on from the White House as Mr Trump speaks at the Abraham Accord signing ceremony, also attended by Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu. AP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani stand on the Blue Room Balcony during the signing ceremony. AP -
Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Al Zayani shortly before participating in the signing of the Abraham Accord. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah, with Mr Netanyahu, left, and Mr Al Zayani at the signing of the Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AFP -
US President Donald Trump speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP -
President Donald Trump walks to the Abraham Accord signing ceremony at the White House with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AP -
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives at the White House to attend the Abraham Accord signing ceremony hosted by President Donald Trump. EPA -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House before the signing of Abraham Accord. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, in the Oval Office. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah with Mr Trump in the Oval Office. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with by President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National -
The UAE delegation led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, is welcomed to the White House by US President Donald Trump. EPA -
Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Trump outside the White House. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed speaks to Mr Trump after arriving at the White House. Reuters -
White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner walks away following a television interview on the North Lawn at the White House in Washington. Reuters -
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome the arrival of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington DC. AFP -
A delegation of senior UAE officials led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, prepares to depart for the White House to sign the Abraham Accord. MOFAIC -
US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AFP -
Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani arrives at the White House in Washington DC. AFP -
US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP -
Preparations at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. -
Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. -
Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. -
Preparation at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. The National
