How Israel sharply changed its policy in the region - opinion

The article analyzes the six-year results of the Abraham Accords, which, according to the author, changed the regional approach by allowing Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel based on their own interests rather than linking them to the Palestinian issue. Economic successes are noted, including trade with the UAE reaching $14.5 billion, and security cooperation amid the Iranian threat, while progress in expanding the number of participants remains limited.

The article, marking the sixth anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords, argues that these agreements fundamentally changed Israel's regional policy. The author writes that before September 2020, the dominant approach linked normalization to a Palestinian settlement, but the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco pursued the deal based on their own economic and strategic interests. Key results cited include trade data: Israel's trade with the UAE from September 2020 to May 2026 reached nearly $14.5 billion. It is noted that in 2025, passenger traffic between the countries grew by over 70%, and the number of direct flights reached 136 per week. In the security sphere, cooperation in drone technology is mentioned amid shared concerns over Iran. The recent upgrade of liaison offices with Morocco to full embassies is also reported. However, the author acknowledges that progress in expanding the number of participants is limited: only Kazakhstan has joined the process, while Sudan has not signed the agreement due to its internal crisis. The article concludes by mentioning a closed meeting of chiefs of staff from several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of CENTCOM, where the main topic was Iran.