About the Annual Conference
(This event was organised by MEI Political Economy research cluster.)
For decades, diplomats have pursued a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian, and Israeli-Arab conflicts. Unfortunately, many have incorrectly believed that peace with Israel and the wider region could only come after a negotiated settlement was reached between Israel and the Palestinians. The Abraham Accords, negotiated by Jared Kushner and Avi Berkowitz, have shattered this myth, reshaped the political landscape of Israel, and have led many to rethink ways to change the status quo. By analysing the lessons learned from negotiating the Accords, future diplomats will be better equipped to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East.
This public talk was conducted both in-person and online via Zoom on Tuesday, 2 May 2023, from 3.00pm to 4.30pm (SGT).
Watch the full talk here:
Listen to the full event here:
Photo Image: (L–R) Current Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, then US President Donald Trump, and then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, signing the Abraham Accords at the White House on 15 September 2020. Alex Wong / Getty Images via AFP.
Avrahm (Avi) Berkowitz
served in the Trump administration from 2017-2021, first as a Special Assistant to the President, then as Deputy Assistant to the President, and finally, as the Assistant to the President and Special Representative for International Negotiations. While in his role as Special Representative, Mr Berkowitz oversaw the release of the United States’ Vision for Peace, a comprehensive plan aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and was the lead negotiator of the Abraham Accords, a group of normalisation agreements that established diplomatic relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. The agreements earned Mr Berkowitz two Nobel Peace Prize nominations (2021 and 2022), the National Security Medal, the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Public Service Medal, and the Order of Ouissam Alaouite (Grand Officer rank), the latter of which was given to him by the King of Morocco. Mr Berkowitz is the youngest known recipient of the National Security medal, and was listed as the most influential person of 2020 by the Jerusalem Post. After leaving government service, he joined Affinity Partners, where he advises the firm on numerous matters.
[Moderator] Dr Jean-Loup Samaan
is a Senior Research Fellow specialising in Middle East strategic affairs, with a particular focus on the Israel–Hezbollah conflict and the evolution of the Gulf security system. Prior to joining MEI, he held various positions in the policy sector. He worked as a visiting scholar with the RAND Corporation (2007-2008) and as an adviser at the directorate for strategic affairs of the French Ministry of Defence (2008-2011). He then gained extensive experience in the domain of military education and training, first as a deputy director for the Middle East Faculty of the NATO Defense College (2011-2016), and as an associate professor in strategic studies with the UAE National Defense College (2016-2021).
