Model For Peace In The Middle East
The Abraham Accords are a model of peace for Israel and Palestine
When Israel signed normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, I felt the same euphoria I did when Barack Obama became America’s first Black president.
As a lifelong activist fighting racism in the U.S., it wasn’t until I met Obama in person when he was running for the Illinois State Senate seat that I ever dreamed America would elect a Black president. After I chatted with then State Senator Obama for a bit, I just knew.
A few years later, when the electoral votes hit 270 on November 4, 2008, the entire crowd (me included) watching the results at The Loft bar on Olive Boulevard in St. Louis burst into tears. America elected a Black man — a mere 232 years after declaring independence. That’s sarcasm if you weren’t sure.
As much as I long for peace in the Middle East, just like I didn’t believe America would elect a Black president, I hadn’t believed on any intellectual or emotional level that any Arab country would ever agree to any real peace agreements with Israel. The depth of hatred seemed insurmountable.
Sure, there’s the 50-year-old “peace” agreement with Egypt. While militarily and strategically beneficial, it hasn’t exactly resulted in Egyptians and Israelis becoming good…
