Negev Forum Steering Committee meets to prepare for 2nd Abraham Accords Summit due in Morocco

The steering committee of the Negev Forum, including Abraham Accords partners, Egypt and the U.S. met Monday in Abu Dhabi to prepare for the second summit, scheduled in Morocco.

Delegates from Morocco, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, Israel and the U.S. are taking part in the two-day preparatory meeting tasked with identifying realistic and doable projects to be submitted to the next ministerial meeting for approval.

These projects are related to food and water security, education, health, tourism, renewable energy, coexistence and security.

The Arab countries participating in the Abu Dhabi meeting emphasize the need to ensure security, peace and development in the region, especially for the Palestinian people. They also voiced concern about unilateral actions undermining peace chances, making reference to recent events in Al Quds.

The Negev Forum includes six working groups. Morocco co-chairs with Israel the two working groups related to food and water security, and education and teaching, while other countries chair the sectors of tourism, health, renewable energy, security, environment, among others.

In March 2021, the first Negev summit hosted the Emirati, Bahraini, Moroccan and Egyptian foreign ministers, along with the U.S. secretary of state.

During this summit, Morocco’s top diplomat Nasser Bourita voiced hope to see the next summer held in “another Sahara” alluding to Morocco’s southern provinces.

On January 2, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the next Arab Accords summit would be held in Morocco.