Today, a trilateral meeting will be followed by a press conference between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahayn. The discussion takes place as the announcement of the Abraham Accords that set the stage for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE and other Arab countries marks its first anniversary.
The top diplomats will speak about the progress that has been made since the signing of the Abraham Accords, future opportunities for collaboration, and bilateral issues such as regional security and stability. Iran will also be on the agenda.
Dr. Ebtesam al Ketbi and Mr. Bob Silverman will analyze the current state of the Abraham Accords, what the future of relations between US, UAE and Israel will look like, and the regional implications.
Dr. Ebtesam al Ketbi was voted one of the 50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World. She leads the Emirates Policy Center, a well-respected think tank. Al-Ketbi is the founder and president of the Emirates Policy Center, based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Mr. Bob Silverman is an expert on US Mideast and Gulf States policy. Formerly a senior US diplomat, he served as the elected president of the American Foreign Service Association. While at the State Department, Silverman served as political counselor of the US Embassy in Israel and economic counselor for the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia, among other positions. Silverman is also a lecturer in Middle Eastern Studies at Shalem College in Jerusalem, and president of the Inter Jewish Muslim Alliance (IJMA).
