US President Donald Trump has called on more Middle Eastern countries to join the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered agreements aimed at normalizing relations with Israel. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump named Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan as potential new signatories, though he admitted some may be hesitant.

Trump claimed Saudi Arabia and Qatar should sign immediately and accused states refusing to join of showing 'bad intention.' He painted a rosy picture of the region, asserting the accords would create a 'United, Powerful, and Economically Strong' Middle East. He even suggested Iran would be honored to join.

The Abraham Accords, named after the biblical patriarch, were mediated by the Trump administration in 2020, normalizing ties between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Kazakhstan joined last year. The accords promote cooperation in science, art, medicine, and trade but remain vague and lack detailed measures.

However, new signatories are unlikely soon. Saudi Arabia conditions normalization on progress toward a Palestinian state. Qatar sees itself as a neutral mediator and backs the Palestinian cause. Iran's hostility toward Israel is central to its state doctrine.

Critics, including analyst Khaled Elgindy, argue the accords 'removed one of the few sources of leverage Palestinians had' and 'eliminated incentives for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territory.' The accords decouple normalization from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which supporters hail as a breakthrough but detractors see as undermining Palestinian rights.

Source: www.dw.com