During his Middle East visit on Monday, US President Donald Trump emphasized the significance of the “Abraham Accords”, aiming to expand upon the 2020 agreements that increased Arab states’ diplomatic relations with Israel.The name carries profound religious and cultural significance, referencing a biblical patriarch venerated by three major world religions – Christianity, Islam and Judaism – whose followers comprise over half of the global population. Those seeking interfaith harmony often reference Abraham – known as Ibrahim in Islam – as a common ancestor.However, this heritage can create friction as certain religious groups claim to be his legitimate successors.“Everybody has tried to claim Abraham as their own, but in fact Abraham belongs to everybody,” said Bruce Feiler, author of “Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths.” “Even in the last two years, we have seen this battle play out in a way that has played out for 4,000 years,” he said. “Everyone is trying to say, ‘This is my story, my point of view is the only point of view that matters.'”But, he said, “the story belongs to all of us, the land will need to be shared, and the legacy will need to be a shared legacy for all of us.”
Abraham Accords: What it means, significance
The Abraham Accords established diplomatic and commercial partnerships between Israel and four Arab nations – the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco – in 2020 during Trump’s presidency. A lasting peace agreement in Gaza could facilitate discussions with other Muslim-majority nations.The biblical account introduces Abraham in Genesis as an elderly man without children, whom God promises will father a great nation. God directs Abraham to journey to what is now Israel and Palestine.Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, is born to Hagar, an enslaved woman. Later, his wife Sarah unexpectedly conceived Isaac in her advanced age. Hagar and Ishmael are sent away, though Ishmael returns to help Isaac bury their father after his death.A crucial biblical narrative – recounted during Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year – tells of God commanding Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham complies but is stopped by an angel before completing the act, having demonstrated his faithfulness.According to Genesis, Isaac and his son Jacob become the Jewish people’s ancestors.Christianity regards Abraham as exemplifying faithful obedience to God. Both Islamic and Jewish traditions portray young Abraham destroying his father’s idols as he embraced monotheism.In Muslim tradition, Ismail (Ishmael) rather than Isaac features in the sacrifice story. Muslims honor Ismail as a righteous prophet and ancestor of Muhammad. They believe the rock where Abraham offered his son lies within Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock.Throughout history, Christianity, Judaism and Islam have each claimed to be Abraham’s true successors, leading to conflicts including crusades and terrorist attacks.Conversely, Abraham’s shared reverence among these faiths makes him a symbol of unity, as demonstrated by the US-brokered accords between Israel and Arab states.After 9/11, President George W Bush highlighted Islam’s Abrahamic roots to distinguish mainstream Muslims from extremists, stating, “We see in Islam a religion that traces its origins back to God’s call on Abraham. We share your belief in God’s justice, and your insistence on man’s moral responsibility.”The term “Abrahamic faiths” promotes interfaith dialogue. The UAE hosts an Abrahamic Family House comprising a church, mosque and synagogue.In America, interfaith advocates prefer “Abrahamic” over “Judeo-Christian” for its inclusivity, though it doesn’t encompass all faiths.These unity efforts occur amid increasing religious tensions. The current Middle East conflict has sparked antisemitism, while New York approaches potentially electing its first Muslim mayor.In Monday’s Knesset speech, Trump emphasized Jewish Abrahamic traditions, thanking the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” and using “Avraham Accords.” He also praised Arab and Muslim leaders participating in Monday’s Egypt summit.This stance might seem inconsistent with Trump’s 2015 call to ban Muslim entry to America and his administration’s restrictions on pro-Palestinian foreign students.However, Feiler suggests this reflects the enduring “tensions of the story” of Abraham spanning 4,000 years.Abraham’s narrative of two sons and two mothers illustrates complex relationships between families and neighbors, said Feiler. “We want it all for ourselves, but we keep being reminded that we can only live alongside the other.”
