In a complex world that is so rife with conflict such as ours, there are some moments in which ideas emerge with a vision that has the promise of transforming entire regions. For many years I have worked on advancing what seemed to be a pipe dream: a Regional Railway of Peace that would bridge the distances and bring Israel closer to its neighbors, and extend all the way to India. Today, I am full of gratitude and a great sense of accomplishment.
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Our great accomplishments in technology and our resilience in the face of socioeconomic and security challenges have shown that we are a people that knows how to shape its destiny. The railway to regional peace, which I decided on with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was a revolutionary step that was set to connect the region economically and promote peace among its members; imagining a network of railways that would weave together economies, diplomacy, and security. I have continued to promote this initiative as a foreign minister and as finance minister I worked to have it incorporated in the Abraham Accords. President Joe Biden's declaration over the weekend has proved that the vision, as the cliche says, can become a reality.
Israel is at a regional crossroads that has made it a contested territory since time immemorial. This is why many empires have tried to conquer it in order to increase their influence and strength. I have always believed in the relationship between economic strength and true peace. During my term as foreign minister, I have made it my mission to turn our embassies around the world into our economic arm while promoting Israeli businesses. This vision has been backed and supported by many, including important leaders in the Arab world and among our neighbors, who have acknowledged the potential of this project.
This was the Israeli journey of the current era: a journey to position Israel as a regional and global linchpin. And as is the case on every journey, there was no shortage of hurdles. Transportation in Israel had been at a much lower quality than needed for such a journey. Israel needed a transformation from the ground up, which necessitated a wide-scale transportation revolution that would have to be executed in the face of many challenges. During my career, I have learned that challenges shape a vision and make it into a reality, and it is those challenges that make the dreams of yesterday a source of strength in the future. In September 2019, when I represented Israel at the UN General Assembly, I took the opportunity to promote diplomatic deals between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations. The discussions centered on the technological know-how Israel and the UAE possess, and the great potential for collaboration that could benefit both sides.
This project's vision sees Israel as an overland bridge to the Arab world, promising it quick access to the Mediterranean Sea. The Abraham Accords had a crucial role when nations such as the UAE found great interest in promoting and even funding parts of this project. Then-US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin made it part of the administration's regional integration initiative, resulting in the effort to create a network of railways as part of the Abraham Accords. This railway system underscores our unrelenting efforts to achieve peace and economic integration. Such a railway network promises to connect Israelis to the Mediterranean Sea and later to Europe, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, and Iraq. Apart from that, the great push Israel's economy has had on the other regional economies has created unprecedented opportunities for trade while fostering regional ties.
President Joe Biden's signing off on this vision over the past weekend is another validation of our efforts and proves that Israel is on the right track. As we stand on the cusp of a new era, we have to remember that this is more than just a transportation project; this is a beacon of hope, a symbol of what can be achieved by determination, collaboration, and a joint vision for a new Middle East, where Israel is its focal point. The Regional Railway of Peace, or the "Peace Train", is a journey to a future of peace, economic integration, and unprecedented opportunities. This is what a new Middle East should look like.
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