Abraham Accords 2.0

Whether you are a Trump supporter or not, we all should realize that Trump’s second term is a fantastic opportunity for more peace agreements in the Middle East. Similar to the Abraham Accords during the first Trump administration, which brought peace between Israel, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, I believe that the near future will bring peace between Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, and hopefully also with the Palestinians.

After spending over 200 days with my reserve IDF unit, fighting both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, I believe that the new administration will be essential for ending the war and bringing back the hostages held in Gaza.

Trump has proven his ability to hire the right people for these complicated tasks. Jared Kushner, Avi Berkowitz, Jason Greenblatt, and Ambassador Friedman and his team shocked the world with the Abraham Accords. These inexperienced diplomats achieved more than any others. Hopefully, Trump will also assemble the right team for his new administration.

Peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia looks pretty likely. Hopefully, peace with Qatar will come soon. But really, what I’m looking for is peace with Lebanon.

Despite their troubled past and years of conflict, Lebanon and Israel have the potential to become close countries. It’s time for Lebanon, which has suffered years of internal conflicts and civil wars, to start a new Era of prosperity and peace. Together with the US, France, and the international community, Lebanon has the potential to return to being the pearl of the region, the ‘Switzerland of the Middle East’.

In 2006, while fighting in Lebanon during the Second Lebanon War, I remember thinking this reality didn’t make any sense. Already then, it was clear that Lebanon was too weak to push back Iran-backed Hezbollah, and therefore, the country has ceased to exist as a sovereign state. Hezbollah took advantage of the weak Lebanese government and took control over huge areas of the country. Hezbollah’s economic power (due to money laundering, drug dealing, and Iranian support) allowed them to gain even more power while Lebanon was dealing with a deep financial crisis.

The new administration must take advantage of Israel’s impressive military successes and push back Iranian influence in Lebanon. Once Hezbollah is out, Lebanon should be able to sign a peace agreement with Israel.

Financial cooperation between Israel and Lebanon will allow massive economic growth in no time. Similar to the situation between Israel and the UAE, the impact will be immediate. A peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon will be massive for both countries’ tourist industries. Once Israel and Lebanon open the border between both countries, millions of tourists will travel between the two countries.

Collaborations between Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and hopefully Qatar, as well, will turn the Middle East into a significant ecosystem. This new climate will also allow for a historic peace agreement with the Palestinians.