SofiaSusal

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A model for international collaboration, inclusivity, and prosperity is already here

Four "impossible" partnerships prove it

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Four unique opportunities. One shared approach.

Morocco's agricultural innovation meets cutting-edge desalination technology. UAE's thriving tech ecosystem finds new markets and talent. Bahrain emerges as a regional financial bridge connecting diverse economies. Sudan opens doors to international investment and development.

Four nations, each bringing unique strengths and resources. One transformative partnership framework, the Abraham Accords, unlocks economic collaboration with Israel that transcends old boundaries.

My Story

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Discovery
Sofia Susal

My name is Sofia Susal, and I am a high school student researching the transformative potential of the Abraham Accords.

Growing up in a Moroccan Jewish family, I became fascinated by Middle Eastern diplomacy during a 2023 family trip to Morocco, where I witnessed the remarkable warmth between Moroccan and Israeli communities following normalization.
This experience sparked my academic research into how the Morocco-Israel partnership could serve as a model for broader regional cooperation. I've conducted fieldwork in Morocco with Professor Mohsine El Ahmadi of the Washington Institute, interviewing politicians, business leaders, and academics to understand the economic and cultural potential of this unlikely partnership.
I've connected with leading Middle East experts and policymakers to explore how a framework for cooperation can be replicated elsewhere. My work focuses on identifying practical pathways for building lasting partnerships that transcend traditional barriers in the Middle East and beyond.
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Case Studies
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The Abraham Accords don't eliminate every disagreement between these countries - they foster economic prosperity to create an alternative narrative despite ongoing differences.

The Concept

Traditional diplomacy focuses on resolving disputes: negotiating historical claims, assigning responsibility, and determining who deserves what. It's about finding common ground through compromise between two opposing narratives.
Unlikely Partnerships explores a different approach.
The Abraham Accords shifted diplomacy from asking "How do we resolve our differences?" to "How can we benefit now despite our differences?"
Instead of relitigating history, these participants focused on building futures. Instead of fighting to control a single narrative, they found ways to develop an alternative one fostering cooperation

Education & Events

The Takeaway

What Makes the Abraham Accords Different?

Across all four relationships documented in this research, several consistent factors emerge:
Complementary Economic Strengths:
Partners brought different assets creating genuine win-win opportunities: Israeli technology meeting Arab capital and markets.
Leadership:
Decision-makers in each case prioritized concrete benefits over historical grievances and popular sentiment.
Gradual Foundation-Building:
Most relationships had years of quiet preparation before formal announcement, suggesting successful normalization requires careful groundwork.
US Strategic Involvement:
American diplomatic and economic incentives provided crucial external motivation - Western Sahara recognition for Morocco, security partnerships for UAE and Bahrain, terrorism list removal for Sudan.
By creating the right conditions to transform conflict into cooperation, frameworks like the Abraham Accords represent a promising model for international collaboration, inclusivity, and prosperity.

SofiaSusal

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sofia.susal@gmail.com
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