US diplomat 'optimistic' more countries will join Abraham Accords
'I can’t say soon, but I can say I’m optimistic,' Linda Thomas-Greenfield says during Israel visit
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield is "optimistic" that more countries will normalize relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords and is working on making it into a reality.
She made the comments in an interview with Ynet News while visiting the Jewish state this week.
"I can’t say soon, but I can say I’m optimistic. And I can tell you that I am working on that issue with the Israeli PR in New York, and we will continue to look for opportunities," Thomas-Greenfield said.
While the administration of US President Joe Biden is engaging with Saudi Arabia on establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, Thomas-Greenfield did not give an update on the progress of those efforts when pressed on the issue.
The Abraham Accords originally included the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with the later additions of Sudan and Morocco.
The White House is reportedly also working on adding Comoros, a Muslim-majority island country off the coast of eastern Africa, to the Abraham Accords.
Other Muslim-majority countries that have been mentioned as possibly joining the Abraham Accords include Tunisia, Oman, Qatar and Malaysia.