The Abraham Accords countries held their first official meeting since Oct. 7, 2023, on Thursday morning in Manhattan, and the gathering signals a push to restart a diplomatic project that stalled after Israel’s war with Hamas and the broader conflict that followed.
The meeting brought together the United States, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. Kazakhstan also sent representatives for the first time, a sign of the country’s interest in joining the group. Under Secretary of Political Affairs Allison Hooker led the U.S. delegation.
“The Abraham Accords countries are back together,” Hooker said, noting that President Trump brokered the agreements during his first term.
The meeting included the five founding members of the Abraham Accords plus Kazakhstan as a first-time attendee.
The meeting was hosted by the N7 Foundation, which has convened such gatherings since 2021. Founder Jeffrey Talpins said the next phase is about deepening existing relationships and finding practical collaboration opportunities.
Aryeh Lightstone of the Board of Peace, Ryan Arant of the State Department, and Oren Eisner of the N7 Foundation were present at the meeting. An administration official told CBS News that Marco Rubio’s State Department team and White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are prioritizing the effort.
Participants discussed formalizing cooperation among Abraham Accords countries, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Talpins said the accords have shown what is possible when countries unite around shared interests.
Kazakhstan’s presence was a key moment. The country expressed interest in joining last year, and the path became official in November 2025.
President Trump announced Kazakhstan’s intention to join during an Oval Office meeting with President Tokayev. Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time: “We will soon announce a Signing Ceremony to make it official, and there are many more Countries trying to join this club of STRENGTH.”
A Kazakhstan embassy official told CBS News the gathering was a step toward expanding the accords, citing interest in technology and transport partnerships.
The Abraham Accords normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and several Muslim countries starting with the UAE and Bahrain in 2020, followed by Morocco. Momentum for Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries to join stalled after the Oct. 7 attacks and the ensuing wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
The accords had been a major foreign policy achievement for Trump, but the wars tested whether the alliances could survive.
The meeting on Thursday was a statement of intent. The next phase, according to Talpins, is about deepening existing relationships and finding practical collaboration opportunities.
The administration’s stated priority means the effort is being watched closely at the highest levels of government. The N7 Foundation’s role as host suggests it continues to play a convening role.
The meeting was a start. The test will be whether the countries can move past the divisions that emerged after Oct. 7.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct. 7, 2023 | Hamas attacks derail expansion of the accords |
| Nov. 2025 | Trump announces Kazakhstan’s intention to join |
| Thursday | First official meeting since Oct. 7 attacks |
- 2020 — UAE and Bahrain become the first Gulf Arab countries to recognize Israel.
- Shortly after — Morocco follows, completing the founding group of five.
- Before Oct. 7 — Momentum builds for Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries to join.
- Oct. 7, 2023 — Hamas attacks stall further expansion.
- Nov. 2025 — Trump announces Kazakhstan’s intention to join.
- Thursday — First official meeting since Oct. 7 attacks includes Kazakhstan for the first time.
The timeline shows how quickly the project advanced before Oct. 7, and how quickly it stalled afterward. The meeting on Thursday marked the first time the group gathered officially since the attacks, and the inclusion of Kazakhstan signals the expansion effort is moving forward again.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs the channels staying open between the Abraham Accords countries and diplomacy continuing, and is against any move toward foreign entanglement or standoff that would close those channels. The meeting was a statement of intent, not a decision, and the next phase is about deepening relationships and finding practical collaboration opportunities — exactly the kind of quiet work the paper favors over grand announcements.
The inclusion of Kazakhstan shows the accords remain a living project rather than a monument to a past deal. The paper welcomes that.
What matters now is keeping the channels open for trade, diplomacy and compromise, as the paper has long argued. The reader should watch for any sign that the effort drifts into foreign entanglement or standoff — the paper’s greatest worry on these matters.
Source material: “Abraham Accords countries hold first official meeting since Oct. 7 attacks,” CBS News.
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