"Exploring the Abraham Accords and the Israeli-Saudi Peace Agreement for Palestinians in East Jerusalem”

"Exploring the Abraham Accords and the Israeli-Saudi Peace Agreement for Palestinians in East Jerusalem”

In this article, I am exploring the potential benefits that Palestinians from East Jerusalem may derive from the Abraham Accords and the Israeli-Saudi peace agreement.

In mid-Feb 2023 and as a follow-up event for the OurCrowdTech Conference in Jerusalem, I was invited by Stand with us, to sit on a panel and speak about my experience in strengthening the economic relationship between East and West Jerusalem, with a focus on Hi-Tech and Innovation.???

After finishing my speech, I noticed that it caught the attention of some of the intellectual, business, media, and community leaders from Israel who were present. They spoke to me about their trips and work in Arab countries, particularly in the UAE, which had become more accepted since the event we were attending was about the Abraham Accords. However, a few of them also mentioned their ties with Saudi Arabia and shared their experiences, which they said were different from what the media portrays.

This was the fourth time that I had heard from Israelis about their experiences in Saudi Arabia. It prompted me to consider how the Arab population in Jerusalem would react to the Israeli-Saudi peace agreement. Would they oppose it or accept it? I also started considering the potential incentives that such an agreement would offer to Arabs in Jerusalem. Would they benefit from it?

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With the implementation of the Abraham Accords by Israel and Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem will see an influx of investment in technology, employment, housing, and infrastructure at Al-Aqsa Mosque, among other things that have eluded the Palestinian and Jordanian governments in the past. It is logical to assume that the Israeli government will collaborate, with the Saudis to develop East Jerusalem as a partner in the endeavor.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly expressed its interest in managing the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, as evident from their meetings with Israeli and American officials. Their aim is to establish a foothold in the administration of the Endowments Department at Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially in light of the perceived inefficiency of the current Jordanian administration and the increasing Turkish influence in the mosque.

Some experts argue that Saudi Arabia would make a more suitable manager for the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Islamic Waqf, for several reasons. Firstly, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is more financially equipped than Jordan, which has historically struggled with limited resources. Additionally, the Israeli government may hold greater respect for Saudi Arabia, similar to the recent warming of relations with the UAE and Bahrain.

Under the leadership of Mohammad Bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has adopted a more liberal approach, which resonates with the majority of Jerusalemites. As the birthplace of the Muhammadan message, Saudi Arabia and its monarch, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, hold a special place in the hearts of the people of Jerusalem. Therefore, it is not impossible for the Al-Aqsa Mosque to fall under the patronage of Saudi Arabia. For the people of Jerusalem, this could mean the possibility of the reconstruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings becoming a reality.

Furthermore, in recent years, the Palestinian Authority has developed closer ties with Saudi Arabia than with Jordan. As a result, obtaining the approval of the Palestinian Authority should not be a major hurdle. Additionally, the Saudi financial support for the PA has far surpassed the level of support provided by Jordan.

If Saudi Arabia were to sign a peace agreement with Israel and invest in East Jerusalem, it could potentially bring several benefits to the city. There is a strong believe that Israel will not agree and cooperate, but this shall not prevent exposing some examples:

1.????Technology investment: Saudi Arabia is a rapidly growing technology hub, and it could bring investment and expertise to East Jerusalem's technology sector, potentially creating new jobs and economic opportunities. Last year the Kingdom committed to investing $20 Billion in Artificial Intelligence (AI), said Abdullah al-Ghamdi, Head of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, and this would create enormous opportunities to Palestinians living in West Bank and East Jerusalem.??According to GE-Global Innovation Barometer,” Saudi Arabia Rises Fastest in Global Poll”.?Healthcare on of the fastest sector for innovation

2.????Infrastructure development: By investing in the region, Saudi Arabia could facilitate infrastructure improvements in East Jerusalem, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This could include enhancements to facilities such as halls, gardens, wells, service offices, electricity, utilities, and graveyards located outside the walls. In essence, the Saudis have a proven track record of developing infrastructure in Mecca and Medina, and there is every indication that they possess the capacity and willingness to do the same for Al-Aqsa

3.????Housing development: Saudi investment could also help to build new housing units in East Jerusalem, which has faced a housing shortage for many years. When Saudi Arabia assumes control of the Islamic Waqf, they would have authority over the vacant and unoccupied land owned by the Waqf. Currently, the Waqf administration is not permitting Jerusalem residents to use this land to construct homes, citing the unavailability of land. However, if Saudi investors with a mindset for affordable housing step in, there is a considerable opportunity for them to use the waqf land and build such housing for Arab communities in Jerusalem. This could help to improve living conditions for the residents of the city.

4.????Tourism: Saudi Arabia has recently been investing heavily in its tourism industry, and it could bring some of that expertise to East Jerusalem, helping to develop the city as a tourist destination and bringing more visitors to the region. A significant opportunity exists to reopen the pilgrims' corridor, which has been closed for decades. Muslim visitors traditionally prefer to visit three key mosques, namely Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. If Israel and Saudi Arabia collaborate, it could result in the re-establishment of this important pilgrimage route, leading to a substantial influx of Islamic pilgrims to Jerusalem. Such a development would have a positive impact on the struggling tourism economy in the city.

5.????Civil Society Development: Since 1994, Saudi Arabia has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the Palestinian Authority, as well as to the Jerusalem Funds. However, local Arabs living in Jerusalem have not witnessed the funds donated to the Jerusalem Funds, and it appears to have evaporated. To maximize the positive impact on the lives of Arab Jerusalemites, direct funding from Saudi Arabia to civil society organizations in Jerusalem would be more effective. Currently, the positive impact of Turkish funds is visible on the ground, as their efforts to promote cultural exchange and tourism have contributed to the development of East Jerusalem's cultural institutions and heritage sites.

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It's important to note that any investments would need to be carried out in a way that respects the rights and aspirations of all parties, including the Palestinian people. A successful partnership between Saudi Arabia and Israel in East Jerusalem would require careful planning and cooperation between the two countries, as well as input from local stakeholders.

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Mahmoud Khweis

8 March 2023