U.S. Envoy Teases Major Announcement on Expanding Normalisation with Israel — A New Arab Country Next?

The U.S. Special Representative for Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff, revealed that Washington is preparing to issue a “major announcement” regarding new countries joining the Abraham Accords and normalising ties with the Israeli occupation.

Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, Witkoff indicated that the recent ceasefire, which followed Israel’s large-scale assault on Iran, prevented the conflict from spiralling into a long-term war, opening the door to renewed regional diplomacy.

He expressed hope for a broader peace agreement between the parties, claiming there were “strong signals” suggesting the potential for such a deal. Witkoff added that he holds a “personal belief” that Iran may be open to reconciliation.

New Nations Expected to Join the Abraham Accords

Witkoff confirmed that an announcement will be made soon regarding additional countries joining the Abraham Accords — the U.S.-brokered series of normalisation agreements with Israel.

“We expect several countries to formalise their relations with Israel in the near future,” he said.

Israel signed the Abraham Accords with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Sudan in late 2020 — moves widely condemned across the Muslim world as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.

Israel: Syria and Lebanon May Normalize Before Saudi Arabia

In a recent interview with PragerU, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yehiel Leiter claimed that Syria and Lebanon may join the Accords before Saudi Arabia.

As quoted in the Jerusalem Post, Leiter stated:

“There’s currently nothing stopping us from pursuing agreements with Syria and Lebanon. We’ve fundamentally changed the dynamics in the region. I’m very optimistic that an Abraham Accord with Syria and Lebanon is possible — even before Saudi Arabia.”

In conversation with PragerU’s CEO, Marissa Streit, Leiter noted that Saudi Arabia was close to normalisation in 2019, and had former President Trump remained in office in 2020, full diplomatic ties may have already been achieved.

Despite ongoing complications — particularly the Israeli war on Gaza — Leiter said Israel and Saudi Arabia are still on the path toward normalisation, albeit with political and regional hurdles.