Back To Latest

AAPI Monthly Newsletters

AAPI Newsletter: November 2023

December 13, 2023

By Abraham Accords Peace Institute

If you light a candle in the middle of the day in a bright room, you might not even notice that the candle is lit. Yet if you light the same candle in darkness, its illumination will be seen far and wide.  Hanukkah commemorates the ability of the Jewish People to live securely and freely in their ancient homeland. This freedom is commemorated by lighting one more candle each night. Each candle adds to the light and repels the darkness. 

On October 7th a great darkness came over the Middle East and the world. Yet there have also been many moments of light. One came a week before Hanukkah, when Israel’s President HE Isaac Herzog, arrived in the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of Emirati President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.  Just three years ago, before the Abraham Accords, the very concept of an Israeli president traveling publicly at the request of an Emirati president would have been unimaginable.

Since the war began, experts have speculated that the Abraham Accords would not be strong enough to withstand the pressure.

The visit by President Herzog to the United Arab Emirates, as well as the meaningful speech given by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, HH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the opening of the 2023 Manama Dialogue, should quiet those skeptics.

The Abraham Accords are the solution to many of the challenges facing the Middle East. The leaders in the region who are building its future acknowledge the importance of the Accords and continue to invest in them, even when it is not popular or easy. We salute the Presidents of the UAE & Israel and the Crown Prince of Bahrain for their unswerving dedication to the principles of the Abraham Accords.

The singular picture of the President of the UAE and President of Israel together will serve as this year's Hannukah candle, shedding enormous light in a dark time. Inspired by their example, the Abraham Accord Peace Institute will continue to work tirelessly for a more peaceful and prosperous region.

 

Regards,

 
Israeli President Herzog’s meeting with Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed came on the sidelines of the 2023 UN Climate Conference, COP28, which is being hosted this year by the UAE. The UAE’s leadership in organizing and hosting COP28 marks a major milestone in the country’s growing global role on the issue of combating climate change, which is at the top of the international agenda.

As the world comes together to discuss strategies for climate action, we have chosen to highlight in this month’s newsletter the numerous ways in which Abraham Accords climate cooperation is contributing to a sustainable future. This cooperation is already having a tangible impact on lives across the countries of the Abraham Accords and the broader region.

From November 30 to December 12, 2023, the world will come together in Dubai for the UN Climate Conference, COP28, hosted by the UAE. Key priorities for COP28 include accelerating emissions reductions, building the energy systems of the future while decarbonizing the energy systems of today, transforming food systems, reforming land use, and putting nature, people, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action.
 
The Abraham Accords, since their signing in 2020, have opened the door to ground-breaking cooperation in the fields of climate-tech, environmental preservation and scientific collaboration. This cooperation has the potential to shape a more sustainable future for the Middle East, while helping deliver on mitigation and adaptation goals around the world.
 
The following are examples of Abraham Accords cooperation in the fields of climate action and sustainability:
 
United Arab Emirates - Israel:

  • Israeli company Watergen and Emirati company Al Dahra signed a strategic agreement on water security, which aims to bring Watergen’s water-from-air technology to the UAE and other countries in the region. In addition, Watergen, together with Emirati company Baynunah and Tel Aviv University, announced a three-way partnership to develop a joint Israeli-Emirati water research institute. The partnership aims to capitalize on opportunities to improve drinking water qualities, optimize sources of drinking water, improve water supply for advanced irrigation, streamline food production output and implement advanced technologies for treating water and wastewater.
  • DisruptAD, the venture capital arm of the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund ADQ, co-led a 105-million- dollar investment in Aleph Farms, an Israeli lab-grown cultivated meat start-up. The investment will help bolster Abu Dhabi’s long-term focus on food security and resilience.

Morocco - Israel:

  • Israeli company H2Pro and Moroccan renewable energy developer Gaia Energy signed an agreement at the 2022 UN Climate Conference (COP27) for co- development of a gigawatt-scale green hydrogen project.
  • Four Israeli food tech startups, led by Halman-Aldubi Technologies, announced a project together with the Marrakesh-based Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) to develop sustainable food solutions without the need for water, land or energy. As part of the project, the university, in cooperation with the Israeli startups, will produce high-protein fish food from municipal organic waste, insects and algae.

Bahrain - Israel:

  • Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, signed an agreement to develop and upgrade the water economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Under the agreement, signed with the Bahrain Electricity and Water Authority, Mekorot will provide consulting, planning, and support services in a number of fields, including seawater and brackish water desalination, as well as water resources management and its supply to the population of Bahrain.
  • Israeli climate-tech start-up BladeRanger and Alpha Solar, one of Bahrain’s leading energy providers, formed a partnership to assist solar site owners in the Gulf region to maximize power generation by utilizing BladeRanger’s autonomous solar-panel cleaning robots.


In light of the far-reaching challenges to our climate and natural environment, particularly in the Middle East, cross-border climate cooperation is more important than ever. The past three years have demonstrated the tremendous potential benefit of collaboration between Abraham Accords countries on sustainability and climate innovation. Expanding and deepening these partnerships can help improve the lives and livelihoods of peoples across the Middle East, while promoting regional stability, prosperity and peace.

READ FULL REPORT HERE.

 
 

October 2023 Trade Numbers: (Source: Israel Central Bureau of Statistics)

  • Trade between Israel and the United Arab Emirates reached $222.3 million in October 2023, constituting a 1.18% increase in trade from October 2022. For the first 10 months of 2023, bilateral trade was $2.56 billion, constituting a 25% increase in trade from the first 10 months of 2022.
  • Trade between Israel and Bahrain reached $400,000 in October 2023 matching the level of trade from October 2022. For the first 10 months of 2023, bilateral trade was $10.3 million, constituting a 0.96% decrease in trade from the first 10 months of 2022.
  • Trade between Israel and Morocco reached $5 million in October 2023, constituting a 60.94% decrease in trade from October 2022. For the first 10 months of 2023, bilateral trade was $94.7 million, constituting a 111.86% increase in trade from the first 10 months of 2022.
  • Trade between Israel and Egypt reached $34.3 million in October 2023, constituting a 78.65% increase in trade from October 2022. For the first 10 months of 2023, bilateral trade was $319.4 million, constituting a 25.75% increase in trade from the first 10 months of 2022.
  • Trade between Israel and Jordan reached $31.7 million in October 2023, constituting a 28.44% decrease in trade from October 2022. For the first 10 months of 2023, bilateral trade was $399.3 million, constituting a 9.64% decrease in trade from the first 10 months of 2022.
 

October 2023 Visitor Numbers: (Source: Israel Central Bureau of Statistics)

  • 100 Moroccan citizens visited Israel in October 2023, constituting an 67% decrease from October 2022. Approximately 3,100 Moroccan citizens have visited Israel so far this year, a 40.91% approximate increase from the first 10 months of 2022.
  • 0 Egyptian citizens visited Israel in October 2023 constituting a 100% decrease from October 2022. 5,300 Egyptian citizens have visited Israel so far this year, an 8.16% increase from the first 10 months of 2022.
  • 400 Jordanian citizens visited Israel in October 2023, constituting a 55.56% decrease from October 2022. 16,600 Jordanian citizens have visited Israel so far this year, a 15% increase from the first 10 months of 2022.
 
 

October 2023 Flight Departure Numbers: (Source: Israel Airports Authority)

  • 72,395 Israelis flew to the United Arab Emirates in October 2023, constituting a 33.41% decrease from October 2022.
  • 4,780 Israelis flew to Morocco in October 2023, constituting a 75.4% decrease from October 2022.
  • 3,326 Israelis flew to Jordan in October 2023, constituting a 76.5% decrease from October 2022.
  • 8,901 Israelis flew to Egypt in October 2023, constituting a 62.68% decrease from October 2022.
  • *33,148 Israelis flew to Bahrain in the first 10 months of 2023, constituting a 50.87% increase from the first 10 months of 2022.

*Monthly figures for Israelis traveling to Bahrain were not published this month. The data above represents the Israel CBS' published cumulative total for the month of October 2023.

Featured Resources

Institute Updates

AAPI Applauds Landmark Decision: Israel Recognizes Moroccan Sovereignty Over the Sahara
More Resources