Peace in the Middle East is blooming

On Sept. 20, the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords was celebrated at a reception for Parliamentarians in Ottawa, organized by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations across Canada, under the joint high patronage of Souriya Otmani, ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, and Dr. Ronen Hoffman, ambassador of the State of Israel. Both the Canada-Morocco Parliamentary Group and the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group were co-sponsors. This unique event offered a glimpse into the blooming relations of peace that blessedly are redrawing the strategic architecture of the Middle East. Over the past two years, Morocco, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan have normalized their relationships with Israel, embarking on a broad range of diplomatic, defence, business, and cultural partnerships. These peaceful partnerships join the several-decades-old diplomatic ties that Egypt and Jordan maintain with Israel, and there is every reason to believe that the “Abrahamic circle of peace” in the region will grow in the coming years to include more Arab countries. Morocco and Israel share deep and historic ties. Many Sephardic Jews now residing around the world have roots in Morocco, where the strong Jewish community dates to antiquity. In fact, in 1948, when Israel was established, Morocco was home to the largest community of Jews in the Muslim world. King Mohammed VI is today spearheading an initiative to restore Jewish historic and religious sites throughout Morocco. Morocco and Israel are similar in that they cherish their strong cultural and religious identities while blending tradition with enlightenment and modernity. They concurrently uphold proud national sentiment and a broad-minded approach to international brotherhood and regional co-operation. Israel and Morocco have opened liaison offices in Rabat and Tel Aviv that will soon become embassies, and they have signed a broad range of trade, defence, educational, and cultural agreements. Tourism between the two counties is already mushrooming, and the expectation is that trade between the two countries will grow from $100-million to $500-million within a short time. Trade between the UAE and Israel has surpassed $1.4-billion in just the first seven months of 2022. Lawyer and former Quebec Member of Parliament Richard Marceau is vice-president at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the advocacy agent for Jewish Federations across Canada. Photograph courtesy of CIJA Underlying these new peaceful relations is the understanding that security and prosperity for all peoples of the Middle East rely on direct dialogue, scientific and technological co-operation, and common cause against radical forces—especially against the nefarious ambitions of Iran. Iran and its proxy militias are the main cause of instability from North Africa to the Arabian Gulf. The new coalition of moderate countries in the region, which also advances Western strategic goals for global security and energy stability, should signal to Palestinian leadership that normalization with Israel is possible given good will and an openness to compromise. Were this the case, we know Israelis will be encouraged to make sacrifices for peace. Israeli-Moroccan peace as well as the other recent peace accords need not “sideline” the Palestinians. Indeed, to the contrary, these accords show the way ahead. Canada always has been a leader in bridge-building and peace-keeping, focused on nurturing the better nature of peoples through humanitarian work, academic and business partnerships, and so much more. Moroccans and Israelis hope for the support of Canada as a beacon of freedom as they grow beyond decades of hostility and develop new interfaces of friendship. There are many three-way partnership opportunities that can tie Israel, Morocco, and Canada together—strengthening each of our three countries and simultaneously solidifying the infrastructures of Middle East peace. Now is the time to invest in peace and co-operation, not to engage in recriminations or blame games. A better Middle East and a safer world is within reach. Let us—Canadians, Moroccans, and Israelis—work together to make it happen. Lawyer and former Quebec Member of Parliament Richard Marceau is vice-president at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the advocacy agent for Jewish Federations across Canada. The Hill Times