Jared Kushner and a Novel Middle East
A Diplomatic Breakthrough: How the Abraham Accords Reshaped Middle Eastern Peace
The Abraham Accords marked a historic breakthrough in modern diplomacy and politics, spearheaded by Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor to President Donald Trump. As the old Machiavellian saying goes, “War makes thieves, and peace hangs them.” In Mr. Kushner’s own words, the Middle East had long been “lost in jargon such as ‘two-state’ or ‘one-state,’ rather than focusing on the future of two peoples — Israeli and Arab.”
As a treaty of peace established between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, the Abraham Accords represented a novel framework for regional cooperation — one free from the bureaucratic entanglements of arbitration and the punitive consequences typical of failed treaties, such as damages or sanctions. Unlike earlier, more cumbersome agreements, such as the Warsaw Treaty, the Accords emphasized partnership and pragmatic coexistence over legalism and blame.
The document itself declares:
“Believing that the further development of friendly relations meets the interests of lasting peace in the Middle East and that challenges can only be effectively addressed by cooperation and not by conflict; Determined to ensure lasting peace, stability, security, and prosperity for both their States and to develop and enhance their dynamic and innovative economies.”
— The Abraham Accords Declaration (2020)
Much like the Declaration of Independence signaled a turning point in the pursuit of freedom and equality, the Abraham Accords offered a vision of hope — a “free tomorrow” for the diverse peoples of the Middle East, long divided by conflict but united by shared aspirations for peace and prosperity.
As Henry David Thoreau wrote in Walden, “This is the house that I built; this is the man that lives in the house that I built.” The analogy is striking. In the Middle East, the “builder” may be the Palestinian — the one who first tilled the soil and sowed the seeds of civilization — while the “inhabitant” may be the Israeli settler, who strives to live amid olive groves, borders, and barriers in a land that is both ancient and contested.
Peace in such a landscape is neither simple nor complete. Yet the Abraham Accords, with their spirit of collaboration, represent a step forward — an invitation to coexistence rather than confrontation.
Let us acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of Jared Kushner, his father Charles Kushner, and the many diplomats from the UAE, Oman, and across the region who have labored tirelessly to shape a better future for the people of the Middle East. Their work stands as a testament to what diplomacy can achieve when vision, courage, and cooperation align.
