Almost immediately following the creation of the state of Israel, its people were thrown into the Arab-Israeli War. Even before they were formally recognized as a state, neighboring countries mobilized forces before a truce was eventually brokered.
In the decades that followed, Israel continued to face economic and military conflicts with its neighbors that refused to recognize its sovereignty and right to exist. From its inception, the goal of peace between Israel and others in the region has been difficult to attain.
Israel once again saw tensions flare in 1973 with the Yom Kippur War, when Egyptian and Syrian forces invaded Israel on one of the holiest days of the year for the Jewish people. The United States took a greater role in brokering peace between both sides, eventually leading to agreements with Egypt and Syria in 1974. This was significant because the U.S., which was in the middle of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, became a leading voice for peace in the region.
However, as time went on, Israel continued to face rising tensions with the Palestinians. Within Israel’s borders, violence continued against Israeli citizens from those opposing Israel’s existence and growth. Once again, the U.S. took a leading role in seeking peace between Israelis and Palestinians, hoping to bring stability to a region that had experienced decades of violence and attacks.
In an effort to strengthen ties to Israel, President Trump supported the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, a decision showing our close ties to Israel and our opposition to the forces that seek to control the narrative in the Middle East. During his first term, Trump has also strengthened our military and our economic relationships, ranging from Israel procuring military equipment designed to defend its people to energy partnerships on cutting-edge technologies.
In a signal to the Arab nations in the Middle East, Trump made it clear he intended to address the growing presence of the Islamic Caliphate as it threatened every country in the region. His decision to devote the necessary resources to eliminate Abu Bakr al Baghdadi and ISIS brought stability and saved the lives of countless innocent people.
The elimination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the mastermind behind many of the terror attacks in the Middle East through his coordinating with militias and terror groups, has also led to a significant disruption in the violence affecting the region. While many Democrats decried the move and vocally opposed it, claiming it would lead to war, the reality was significantly different. Trump’s action didn’t empower Iran to move toward war. Rather, it weakened Iran’s ability to wreak havoc and destabilize the region.
Now, Trump has announced a historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The announcement of the normalization of relations between the UAE and Israel is the first of its kind in decades. Not only will this bring about more peace discussions, it also opens up new economic opportunities for both sides, improves the potential for personal relationships, and fosters what will hopefully be additional peaceful actions in the region.
The significance of the decision, termed the “Abraham Accord,” cannot be overstated. This has the potential to lead to substantial change in the region, drive innovation and growth, and reduce threats against our strongest ally in the Middle East.
After decades of attempts and countless reports saying it wasn’t possible, Trump and his administration have delivered.
Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter represents the 1st District of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives.
