(Washington, D.C., April 4, 2022)–A B’nai B’rith International delegation comprised of organization leaders from multiple continents has visited the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the two initial signatories of the landmark 2020 Abraham Accords—the first Arab-Israel normalization agreements in decades.

The delegation, led by B’nai B’rith International President Seth Riklin and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin, arrived to strongly support the recent formalizing and flourishing of ties between Arab states and the Jewish state, and to encourage more such progress.

During the period of the B’nai B’rith visit alone, Israeli, Egyptian and Emirati government heads met in the Red Sea town of Sharm el-Sheikh; the foreign ministers of those countries joined with counterparts from the United States, Bahrain and Morocco for a historic summit in Israel’s Negev Desert; and the king of Jordan received the president of Israel for the first official visit by an Israeli head of state.

On April 1, the UAE and Israel signed a free-trade agreement, the first such agreement between the Jewish state and an Arab state. B’nai B’rith salutes this historic milestone between two powerhouses of regional productivity and innovation, which can reap monumental dividends for the people of the Middle East.

In the run-up to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, B’nai B’rith praised the UAE and Bahrain for the ongoing strides in their relationships with Israel, especially at the people-to-people level, and condemned Iranian-backed attacks on Israelis and Arabs alike. Both Israel and key Arab states have been acutely threatened by Iran’s illicit nuclear activity and malign behavior generally.

Since the signing of the Abraham Accords, brokered by the U.S., wide-ranging agreements have been reached between Israel and its Arab partners, including both state and non-state entities.

The B’nai B’rith delegation, building upon a long history of presence in and engagement with the Arab world, met with senior government ministers and other policy-shapers, religious figures, leaders of local Jewish communities and the two resident Israeli ambassadors. They also visited Expo 2020—the just-concluded world expo hosted in Dubai—and sites of prime historical and cultural significance.

B’nai B’rith’s Office of United Nations Affairs and Office of Intercommunal Affairs will continue to prioritize engagement with Gulf nations, Arab societies and the Muslim world at large.

B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit bnaibrith.org.