‘A new chapter in the history of peace’
Over the weekend, Canberra’s iconic National Carillon and Telstra Tower were illuminated with the colours of the Israeli and United Arab Emirates flags to mark one year since the agreement was signed.
ISRAEL’S top diplomat in Australia has told The AJN that the first anniversary of the Abraham Accords shows that peace truly can be achieved.
Over the weekend, Canberra’s iconic National Carillon and Telstra Tower were illuminated with the colours of the Israeli and United Arab Emirates flags to mark one year since the agreement was signed.
Speaking to The AJN on Monday, Israel’s deputy chief of mission in Australia Ron Gerstenfeld said the anniversary “is a living testimony of how the region could fulfil its potential for the good of all the people if we eradicate the extremism and fundamentalism”.
Over the weekend the National Carillon and Telstra Tower Canberra were illuminated with the colours of the #Israeli and #UAE flags to celebrate the first anniversary of the #AbrahamAccords!
Did any Canberra locals catch these stunning displays live? pic.twitter.com/EWMqkG8yHc
— Israeli Embassy OZ (@IsraelinOZ) September 20, 2021
“The accords prove that modern and moderate nations, young and innovative people, could collaborate for the prosperity of the region,” Gerstenfeld said.
“It also shows that peace could be warm, people to people peace which promotes economic ties and joint solutions for the core issues of the countries and the world in the fields of water, food security, agriculture, space and more.”
Stating that the accords “changed the paradigm that an Arab nation could not promote peace and normalisation with Israel without getting the green light from the Palestinians”, he added that it is for the Palestinian Authority’s “own benefit to get on board the train of peace if it is genuinely concerned about the future and prosperity of its people”.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett last week confirmed his government would “continue to implement the agreements while striving for a stable, secure and prosperous Middle East for the future of our children”.
“These unprecedented agreements are a new chapter in the history of peace in the Middle East,” Bennett said.
“I would like to thank the leadership of the UAE and of Bahrain for the courage and the daring that enabled the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the American administration which tirelessly led, supported and mediated the success of this achievement.”
He added, “Relations between the countries are only at their beginning and are already bearing many fruit.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged last Friday that the Biden administration would actively work to support and expand the growing diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab nations.
“We want to widen the circle of peaceful diplomacy,” said Blinken, “because it’s in the interest of countries across the region and around the world for Israel to be treated like any other country.”
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