Georgetown University Holds Event Discussing the Abraham Accords Negotiations between Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United States

Panelists Abdullah Alaoudh, Sarah Leah Whitson, and Dylan Williams engage in conversation with moderator Dr. Nancy Okail.

By Valli Pendyala

Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies hosted an event on campus on October 5 to discuss the ongoing Abraham Accords negotiations between the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

The discussions, which began earlier this year, have been billed as an effort to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. However, the three panelists pushed back against this view throughout the event. The panelists included Abdullah Alaoudh, the Saudi Director for the Freedom Initiative and the Secretary-General of the National Assembly Party of Saudi Arabia; Sarah Leah Whitson, the Executive Director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN); and Dylan Williams, the Vice President for Government Affairs at the Center for International Policy. Dr. Nancy Okail, the President and CEO of the Center for International Policy, moderated the discussion.

The panel mainly focused on the role of the United States in the negotiations of the Abraham Accords, namely the role of the defense and nuclear pacts between the United States and Saudi Arabia that were developed alongside the normalization agreement.

Panelist Sarah Leah Whitson stated, “I see this as a reflection of generations of hubris and arrogance by the United States to prioritize the notion that it should be the actor that dictates the political affairs of [the Middle East].” Her view was reflected throughout the event. 

Panelist Dylan Williams argued for taking the United States out of the equation entirely. “Why not regionalize it?” he asked, advocating for  a more multilateral process involving the entirety of the Middle East, especially Palestine, rather than rewarding Israel and Saudi Arabia while forcing the United States forces itself into a process that should be driven by those directly involved.

Furthermore, panelists believed it was dangerous for the United States to concede so much to Saudi desires in order to further a deal that, ultimately, would not successfully influence Saudi Arabia into adopting American interests and values. 

“Attempting to ‘win’ against China and Russia by maintaining a zone of influence and control in the Middle East is a lose-lose strategy; it’s an outdated strategy,” said DAWN Executive Director Whitson, arguing against the effectiveness of providing nuclear capabilities and arms to Saudi Arabia to combat China’s influence in return for normalisation with Israel. Instead, she reported, it will reward the atrocities committed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom the panelists described as “dictators and autocrats.” 

As Abdullah Alaoudh said, “This is not a long-term relationship, this is not a deal, this is not a peace deal, this is not even a normalization between two people.” Instead, it is a way for MBS and Netanyahu to strengthen their positions in their home countries despite ever-increasing dissent while leaving the actual Saudi and Israeli people behind.

Ultimately, the panel discussion made it clear that the complexities and difficulties, such as conflicting interests, shifting priorities, and balancing dozens of state actors, make finding a consensus difficult. However, the first solution presented may not necessarily be the right one. Instead, countries must keep discussions open until a deal with a real solution for all, including those left out of the Abraham Accords, like Palestine, can be reached. Additionally, the United States needs to reconsider the behavior it is rewarding through its involvement in the Abraham Accords and decide if maintaining power in the Middle East through whatever means possible is justifiable.