Israeli think tank: Abraham Accords' success conditioned by establishment of Palestinian state

A new report by the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) emphasized the dire need for a “renewed and updated Arab peace initiative, taking into account the changes that have occurred, notably the Abraham Accords and the war in Gaza.”

Titled, “Time for a New Arab Peace Initiative,” the paper emphasized that “the signatories to the Abraham Accords, alongside Saudi Arabia, publicly call for progress toward resolving the conflict, conditioning the development and consolidation of the accords to the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

It added that Israel’s renewed acknowledgment of the Arab Peace Initiative as a negotiation basis, along with a genuine commitment to strengthen the renewed/ amended Palestinian Authority and resume political processes, aligns with U.S. President Biden’s regional vision.

“This vision builds on the normalization process between Israel and Saudi Arabia, adding a crucial layer to the Abraham Accords,” emphasized the report.

This progress, according to the same source, could lead to ending the Gaza war and advancing the Palestinian arena, which ultimately would lead to bolstering bilateral relations between Israel and the normalizing countries, including Saudi Arabia.

“To sign a full peace agreement with Israel, Saudi Arabia will demand that Israel make significant changes, which it could present as efforts to advance the two-state solution, as outlined in the Arab Peace Initiative,” underscored the INSS, adding that “Israel should also seek modifications to the initiative.”

The Israeli institute noted that “the new peace initiative could mitigate the anti-Israel sentiment in the Arab street and the domestic criticism of Saudi Arabia for indirectly supporting the Abraham Accords.”

The INSS emphasized that the said initiative should be “seen as a starting point for negotiations, but should not dictate them.”

It added that the Abraham Accords notably improved and enhanced Israel’s strategic position in the region before the war.

“However, the assumption that the Arab Peace Initiative and its demands for normalization with Israel have already become obsolete and that peace with the Arab countries is no longer contingent on resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, has proven incorrect,” highlighted the Israeli institute.

The report further underscored that despite the Abraham Accords being three years old, “the Palestinian issue is still on the agenda of the Arab world, certainly among the Arab public, where support for the Palestinians is strong and prominent.”

For this reason, “advancing the political process would significantly aid in furthering normalization efforts and broadening their scope”, added the same source.