Donald Trump left the White House in disgrace. The only US president to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives – the Senate acquitted him both times – Mr Trump remains a central focus of congressional efforts to investigate the January 6 Capitol riots, which he stands accused of having instigated. His once prolific Twitter account has been suspended permanently. The legacy of his chaotic foray into domestic and foreign policy remains the subject of bitter partisan discord – with one notable exception.
Brokering the Abraham Accords, the set of agreements signed in September that normalised Israel’s ties with the UAE and Bahrain, was arguably Mr Trump's only significant diplomatic achievement to win praise from Republicans and Democrats alike. For any imperfections, the deal has already opened the door to broader reconciliation; Israel established formal ties subsequently with both Sudan and Morocco. The imperatives of global security dictate that this venture must not be allowed to fail.
Mr Biden should make the Abraham Accords his own
The specific nomenclature of the Abraham Accords – a familiar trademark from the Trump era – should not deter his successor, Joe Biden, from embracing the innovative substance of the framework.
Continuity of US involvement is important in strengthening these groundbreaking relationships between the Gulf states and Israel – a welcome break from years of trying to mitigate problems that existed between them. The expanded normalisation of ties among these former adversaries enhances regional stability and amplifies the reach of what could become a contemporary version of the vaunted Pax Americana. It provides breathing room for the US and its allies to address the world's other pressing challenges.
Peace between long-time foes serves as a force multiplier in acting against those in the Middle East who perpetuate strife and hostility. That is precisely why the US and other stakeholders in the region should try to ensure the success of this process through all means at their disposal. Last October's launch of the Abraham Fund – a trilateral $3 billion initiative of the US International Development Finance Corporation, the UAE and Israel – was a significant step in this direction. The programme seeks to mobilise "private sector-led investment and development initiatives to promote regional economic co-operation and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond". It also invites additional partners to participate in strategic infrastructure projects designed to foster hope and reconciliation.
Jewish celebrations and ceremonies have been taking place across the UAE. AP
Recent media reports have suggested that the new administration could wind up leaving the Abraham Fund to wither on the vine. That would be an unfortunate development. It would be wiser to resolve confusion surrounding the current fate of the endowment and to leverage its work, instead, to pursue positive change in line with American interests. Even worse would be if the accomplishments of the Abraham Accords themselves were neglected and allowed to disintegrate. Their demise would weaken the edifice of peace, with devastating consequences for the future of multilateral co-ordination in exploring renewed engagement with Iran.
The hour is ripe to capitalise on a breakthrough that has brought down barriers that seemed impermeable between Arabs and Israelis, many of whom are now meeting each other up close for the first time. On October 15, the Atlantic Council, the Emirates Policy Centre in Abu Dhabi and the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv inaugurated a first-of-its-kind collaborative hub to advance this enterprise.
March 1 saw Mohamed Al Khaja, the first Emirati ambassador to Israel, present his credentials to that country's President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem. More milestones are certain to follow. The announcement by US State Department spokesman Ned Price that Mr Biden hopes to help forge "a historic peace" between Saudi Arabia and Israel indicates that the President does not want to squander the opportunity he inherited from the previous administration.
Mr Biden should make the Abraham Accords his own. Picking up where Mr Trump left off, he can build on the deal, welcome new members into the club and cement Israel's acceptance in the Middle East. There is even an outside chance that this rapprochement will create new conditions that could persuade Palestinians and Israelis to come to terms with each other finally. Investing resources to help strengthen the budding partnership between the Gulf states and Israel is a win-win proposition for the US and its Middle East allies that is simply too good to neglect.
Shalom Lipner and Jonathan Ferziger are non-resident senior fellows at the Atlantic Council in Washington
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987 Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon School: ACS in Lebanon University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City Nationality: Lebanese Status: Single Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Programme
Saturday, October 26: ‘The Time That Remains’ (2009) by Elia Suleiman Saturday, November 2: ‘Beginners’ (2010) by Mike Mills Saturday, November 16: ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel Tuesday, November 26: ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) by Alan J Pakula Saturday, December 7: ‘Timbuktu’ (2014) by Abderrahmane Sissako Saturday, December 21: ‘Rams’ (2015) by Grimur Hakonarson
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m Winner: Miller’s House, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m Winner: Kanood, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m Winner: Gervais, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m Winner: Important Mission, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
Red flags
Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany - At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people - Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed - Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest - He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
