US celebrates Abraham Accords anniversary

'These agreements make once-impossible things possible,' State Department says

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, visited the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre Yad Vashem in Israel on Thursday. EPA

The US on Thursday celebrated the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords, saying the historic normalisation pacts between Israel and four Arab nations had brought greater peace and prosperity.

Signed in 2020 under then-president Donald Trump, the accords meant the UAE and Bahrain began diplomatic relations with Israel, with Sudan and Morocco joining later.

"Today we celebrate the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords," the US State Department's Near Eastern affairs section said on Twitter.

"These agreements make once-impossible things possible."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Biden administration remains committed to strengthen and expanding the agreements.

"[The Accords] have been transformational for Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco," Mr Blinken said.

"They have led to new forms of co-operation and regional integration in the Middle East and beyond.

"We are committed to advancing and expanding upon these agreements between Israel and Arab and Muslim-majority countries to enhance regional security prosperity and peace."

The accords have led to Israelis flocking to the UAE and other countries, and greater economic co-operation, technology sharing and business partnerships between Emiratis and Israelis.

The US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, said the accords were about making people's lives better and more prosperous.

On Monday, former senior White House adviser Jared Kushner questioned why President Joe Biden's administration has failed to expand the accords to other countries.

“I do hope that the current administration will focus on that and then work to do that,” said Mr Kushner, who is also Mr Trump's son-in-law.

Spokesman Ned Price said the State Department was "thrilled to celebrate" the second anniversary of the signing in a tweet.

"The United States looks forward to helping strengthen and deepen these partnerships in the years to come," the post read.