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Towards Expanding the “Abraham Accords” and Normalization Between Israel and Saudi Arabia

Steps to Promote Regional Cooperation in in the Fields of Economy, Infrastructure and Strategy.

Saudi Arabia is undergoing a historic economic transformation, while the Middle East is being reshaped by new regional partnerships, security challenges, and shifting alliances. Against this backdrop, normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia—although stalled by the war since October 7—remains a potentially transformative opportunity.

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The possibility of expanding and deepening the Abraham Accords, particularly through the establishment of normal relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, has in recent years outlined a political, economic, and strategic horizon of great importance for the future of the State of Israel and for the reshaping of the Middle East. In light of the regional and global transformations of recent years, including the security and economic challenges shared by the states of the region, there is a growing understanding that civilian and economic cooperation may serve as a central engine for promoting stability, prosperity, and mutual trust. This collection of articles seeks to extend the discussion beyond the conventional political and security dimensions, and to focus on the economic, business, and infrastructure potential inherent in deepening processes of normalization. The articles examine how long-term partnerships based on shared interests, innovation, investments, regional connectivity, and mutual benefits, can be shaped in a manner that can contribute to building trust between states and societies and to strengthening regional stability. The articles rely on historical, political, economic, and infrastructure analyses, and offer a practical and pragmatic approach to formulating policy that will enable the realization of the opportunities inherent in expanding the Abraham Accords. They were written out of recognition that even after the terror attacks of October 7, 2023, and the events of the “Iron Swords” war, shared regional interests persist and create a basis for promoting cooperation between Israel and the states of the region, including Saudi Arabia. In this sense, normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is perceived not merely as a goal in and of itself, but as part of a broader vision of regional integration, based on economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and the strengthening of ties between societies and economies. The realization of this vision requires a serious examination of practical steps that are actionable in the near term, in tandem with sustained long-term strategic preparation. The purpose of this collection is to offer decision-makers, researchers, and the interested public a professional and applied knowledge base, focusing on the economic and infrastructure dimension of normalization processes. In doing so, it seeks to examine the economic potential inherent in rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and to point to possible ways of realizing it through cooperation that will strengthen shared interests and create value for all parties involved. Thus, for example, cooperation in the field of regional connectivity and infrastructure may serve as a significant lever for Israel׳s integration into large-scale regional initiatives, thereby contributing to the deepening and expansion of the Abraham Accords. The collection brings together three chapters offering complementary perspectives on normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The first chapter presents a historical survey of Israel-Saudi Arabia relations to provide important context for current developments. The second chapter focuses on the economic dimension and examines the opportunities and challenges involved in building a business and civilian partnership between the states. The third chapter deals with aspects of connectivity and infrastructure, examining possible pathways for regional cooperation and the challenges impeding their realization. The concluding chapter brings together the policy recommendations emerging from the articles and proposes future courses of action. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation attaches great importance to promoting research and public discussion on issues with strategic implications for the future of Israel and for the stability of the Middle East. We hope that this collection will contribute to a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing regional normalization processes, and will assist in formulating informed policy for their advancement. 

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