Since the signing of the Abraham Accords in August 2020, relations between Israel and the signatory countries have deepened in a spectrum of fields such as groundbreaking forums and summits, high-echelon diplomatic visits and joint initiatives that brought together investors, experts and academicians from all over the region.
The Abraham Accords have remained stable, notwithstanding the geopolitical tensions caused by the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7 and the fighting in the Gaza Strip. In fact, while Israel’s general trade in the fourth quarter of 2023 dropped by 18% compared to the previous year, trade with Abraham Accords signatory countries declined far more moderately – by about 4%. The trend of recovery continued in 2024, with stronger economic collaborations and expansions of ties in many fields. Sectoral segmentation of Israeli exports shows that the defense sector accounts for the vast majority of economic engagements with Abraham Accords countries, particularly exports of missiles, UAVs and air defense systems.
In addition to the top-priority defense and security needs, countries in the region are attributing increasing importance to addressing acute challenges relating to water scarcity, food insecurity and improving public healthcare systems – as an integral part of their national development plans:
- In relation to water, countries in the region are contending with overexploitation of freshwater sources, a shortage of recycling and partial access to clean water. Israel offers proven solutions for desalination, wastewater recycling, smart water management and data-based forecasting technologies.
- In relation to food, there is high dependence on imports, coupled with a desire to strengthen sustainable local production. Israel offers unique know-how in desert agriculture, precision irrigation, advanced cultivation technologies and food-tech solutions.
- In relation to healthcare, relatively high morbidity rates, disparities in access to medicine in outlying regions and a growing need for personalized healthcare solutions create numerous opportunities for Israel, which is an innovation leader in fields such as digital medicine, telemedicine, genetic data analyses and bioinformatics.
This article presents a comprehensive review of the needs and challenges facing Abraham Accords countries (the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan) and Saudi Arabia in the fields of water, food and healthcare. It also includes key policy measures and government programs in light of Abraham Accords countries’ national visions and strategy, and an analysis of their performance based on selected indicators taken from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on this analysis, the article aims to assess the inherent potential of Israeli innovation in these fields, and to ascertain how Israel can leverage it in order to deepen collaborations – both bilaterally and within the framework of multilateral initiatives – in order to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords.
Germany, the leading European country in advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and a strong supporter of regional integration in the Middle East, can play a key role in supporting and building this process, in conjunction with the European Union, which has already formed a strategic partnership with the Gulf states. A trilateral partnership between Israel, the Gulf states and Germany/the EU can become a significant engine for promoting stability, innovation and sustainable development in the region.
