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In Jerusalem parley Citizens of dozens of regional countries wrap up the three-day conference.

Representatives from nearly 30 African and Middle Eastern countries were in Jerusalem this week for a conference, including from states that don’t maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

They participated in the three-day summit at the invitation of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

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Titled “Trusted Regional Partnerships at a Time of Shifting Alliances,” the guests participated in panel discussions Monday through Wednesday on increasing cooperation between the Jewish state and Middle Eastern and African nations in the areas of national security, counterterrorism, food, and water security, and the environment. They also discussed expanding the Abraham Accords.

Saudi Arabia has been mentioned as a possible candidate to join the circle of Arab Muslim countries normalizing relations with Israel; Saudi journalist Abdel Aziz al-Khamis said at the conference that Riyadh wants a larger role in safeguarding Muslim sites in Jerusalem as a condition for normalization.

“Settlement of the Al-Aqsa issue is a key condition for the establishment of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” al-Khamis said, referring to the mosque on the Temple Mount.

Jerusalem Parley Focuses On Israeli Ties With Africa, Gulf
The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs conference participants pose outside the Knesset, on March 29, 2023. Source: Twitter.

“When we come to talk about peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a new approach and a fresh way of thinking must be taken, but in any case, east Jerusalem and the holy places will be at the heart of the agenda from the Saudi side,” he emphasized.

The Jordanian Waqf Islamic trust currently oversees Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, a status quo in place since Israel liberated the Old City in 1967 and that was reaffirmed in the 1994 Jordan-Israel peace treaty.

Jerusalem Parley Focuses On Israeli Ties With Africa, Gulf
Somaliland flag (fourth from the right and next to that of Djibouti) floating over the sky of Jerusalem.

Al-Khamis also touched on the importance of the Saudis joining the Abraham Accords for other countries to be added to the historic agreement.

“Saudi Arabia is the most important hub of the region. If it joins the Abraham Accords, all the Gulf states will join. They’ll see Israel as a friend and it will be easier for them to cooperate. Without Saudi Arabia, the Abraham Accords won’t go any further,” he said.

In addition to the panel discussions, the participants received a recorded video message from Israeli President Isaac Herzog and visited the Knesset where they met with Speaker Amir Ohana, among others. They also met with National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi.

https://twitter.com/JerusalemCenter/status/1640999634947457026

In addition to Israel, representatives participated from Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Jordan, Kurdistan via Sweden, Kenya, Kosovo, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Somaliland, South Africa, South Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Somaliland was represented by Saeed Harir who clearly stated that Somaliland would be the first to jump at formalizing bilateral relations with Israel.

Jerusalem Parley Focuses On Israeli Ties With Africa, Gulf
Saeed Harir was representing Somaliland at the first Israel Africa Arab conference of Abraham Accord in Jerusalem, Israel

“This is an unprecedented, historic meeting of representatives of countries that, in the current climate, were not supposed to come to Israel and discuss strengthening Israel’s ties with Africa and bolstering the Abraham Accords,” said Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

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