What I Told Israeli Lawmakers About Reviving Regional Integration

Why It Matters

Successful integration would lock in the economic and security gains of the Abraham Accords, reducing regional volatility and creating new trade corridors. It also positions the United States as the principal architect of a stable Middle‑East architecture.

Key Takeaways

• Phase two hinges on Hamas disarmament
• Stabilization force proposed under US Central Command
• Israeli settlement expansion threatens integration
• Negev Forum to evolve into broader MENA organization
• I2U2 expansion could link India, Israel, Gulf, Europe

Pulse Analysis

The Abraham Accords sparked a wave of diplomatic optimism, yet the October 7 conflict and subsequent war in Gaza have tested the durability of that momentum. Analysts note that while many regional actors are preoccupied with immediate humanitarian relief and political recalibrations ahead of Israel’s elections, the underlying strategic logic of a connected Middle East persists. Defense cooperation, exemplified by the April 2024 joint response to an Iranian missile barrage, shows that security integration can advance even when diplomatic tracks stall, reinforcing the case for a resilient, multilateral architecture.

Policy recommendations focus on turning the Gaza reconstruction blueprint into a catalyst for broader cooperation. Central to this is Hamas’s disarmament, which would unlock phase two of Trump’s twenty‑point plan and enable an international stabilization force led by U.S. Central Command. Simultaneously, Israel must curb settlement expansion and adopt a calibrated approach in the West Bank to avoid undermining trust. A technocratic Palestinian leadership, supported by Qatar and Turkey, could manage Gaza’s recovery, providing a tangible example of a peaceful neighbor that bolsters the case for deeper economic ties.

Institutional platforms are the next frontier. Reviving the Negev Forum and expanding its membership to include Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and eventually Syria and Lebanon could evolve into a MENA‑wide organization akin to ASEAN. Parallel initiatives such as I2U2 and the India‑Middle East‑Europe Corridor (IMEC) offer complementary trade and infrastructure pathways, linking South Asia, the Gulf, and Europe. By prioritizing incremental, low‑profile engagements over headline‑grabbing normalization deals, the United States and Israel can embed durable mechanisms that sustain peace, unlock investment, and secure a strategic foothold in a rapidly shifting region.