“Investing in Peace - A Celebration of the Abraham Accords” -
Event hosted by StandWithUs, Israel Business Council and the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, an official partner event of the OurCrowd Global Investor Summit Week
(February 16, 2023 -- Jerusalem, Israel) -- As global investors and VIPs converged in Jerusalem for the OurCrowd Global Investor Summit, including many from the Gulf, The Abraham Accords celebrated the growing relationship between the signatory countries, the StandWithUs Katz Education Center in Jerusalem hosted a special event on February 15, 2023. StandWithUs is an official partner of the OurCrowd Global Investor Summit week. The event, “Investing in Peace - A Celebration of the Abraham Accords, was held together with the Israel Business Council and the Abraham Accords Peace Institute.
The reception featured a video showcasing the achievements that peace has brought. Executive Director of StandWithUs-Israel, Michael Dickson, opened the program by showing solidarity with the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. He highlighted the extensive efforts made by Israeli search and rescue and medical personnel to assist those in desperate need. Dickson also mentioned a new effort which StandWithUs is a part of, called MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Aid, which sees Israelis join with Syrians, Jordanians, Bahrani and other partners to help following the earthquake.
Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum chaired a panel that featured Sumaiiah Almeheiri, the first student from the UAE, who spoke about opening her eyes to life in the Jewish State; Ramallah-based businessman Mahmoud Kuwais who has fully embraced the Abraham Accords and works to build business links with Israel and the region and Bahraini journalist Adheyah Ahmed, who encouraged others to be “brave” and support peace.
Special guest Judo champion Peter Paltchik, talked about competing in the Arab world and the Olympics. In 2017, he won Bronze in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam and was not allowed to wear an Israeli flag. However, following the intervention of the UAE Minister of Sport, he wore the Israeli flag and the Hatikvah was played when he won the gold in 2018.
US Embassy in Israel's Political Officer, Adam Stern and Simon O'Donnell, Head of Political at the British Embassy expressed their support for the growing normalization efforts. Simon O'Donnell also brought a message of support for the Abraham Accords from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Utilizing a touchscreen, guests were able to sign their name to “The People’s Abraham Accords”, an initiative that allows people around the world to sign their name to a text that advances the cause of peace. The text is written – as in the original accords – in English, Hebrew and Arabic. It states, “As people in the Middle East and around the world, We, the undersigned, embrace our shared humanity. We believe mutual respect, normalization, and cooperation are the key to a more just and peaceful future.”
Executive Director, StandWithUs-Israel, Michael Dickson: “At StandWithUs, we believe that education is the road to peace. Political leaders sign peace agreements, and the people make the peace. Our reception is another demonstration that we will continue to build efforts to make peace between people - to meet each other, learn together, build bridges and ensure that the next generation keeps the promise of the Abraham Accords. Jerusalem literally means 'City of Peace' and I anticipate many similar events going forward as peace rings out from here to across the region.”
Roz Rothstein, CEO and co-founder, StandWithUs: “The People’s Abraham Accords is a positive, proactive campaign to bring people together to share a powerful message of peace from the Middle East to college campuses, high schools and beyond. It's about recognizing the blessing of embracing our shared humanity, moving forward in a positive direction, and overcoming the toxic 'us vs. them' approach which has plagued the region for far too long. Those who really seek a just and peaceful future should take their lead from countries that have committed to work together for the benefit of all.”
Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem and Co-founder of UAE Israel Business Council, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum: “The Abraham Accords have changed the face of the region for the better. This week saw the largest investment conference in Jerusalem and in the Israeli calendar, and we are thrilled to be partnering with StandWithUs to take a moment to reflect on how far we have come and celebrate a bright future in the region”.
Justine Zwerling Founding Member of UAE Israel Business Council – Shore Capital Markets: “Today we join together with the UAE Israel Business Council members from Israel and the Gulf at the premier OurCrowd annual conference in Jerusalem. We are delighted to celebrate the continuing success of the Abraham Accords which our partners at StandWithUs have made possible by hosting delegates from the UAE, Bahrain, and beyond. It is my aspiration that the Abraham Accords expand to include new nations. We are privileged to be at the forefront of supporting thousands of business connections and partnerships in all sectors.”
Asher Fredman, Director for Israel, Abraham Accords Peace Institute: “Two and a half years after the signing of the Abraham Accords, we are beginning to see the new cooperation in innovation and investment bear fruit and impact lives across the region. The Abraham Accords Peace Institute is very happy to work with StandWithUs and all of our partners to celebrate our progress to date, and to build the relationships for a future of peace, prosperity and understanding.”
About StandWithUs
StandWithUs (SWU) is an international, nonprofit and non-partisan Israel education organization that works to inspire and educate people of all ages about Israel, as well as challenge misinformation and fight against antisemitism.
Through university fellowships, high school internships, middle school curricula, conferences, materials, social media, educational films and missions to Israel, StandWithUs supports people around the world who want to educate their schools and communities about Israel.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization has chapters and programs throughout the U.S., in Israel, the UK, Canada, South Africa, Brazil and the Netherlands.
For the last eleven years, SWU has consistently received the highest possible ratings from Charity Navigator and Guidestar, two charity watchdog groups that assess hundreds of thousands of charities in the United States.
