Features
The Atlantic Jewish Council (AJC) has just elected a Winnipegger to the position of president: Naomi Levine
By BERNIE BELLAN From time to time we hear from former Winnipeggers about what they’ve been up to since they left Winnipeg. (And Gerry Posner does a very good job letting Winnipeg Jews know how many ex-Winnipeggers have really “made it” once they left Winnipeg – ouch!)
But recently we were on the receiving end of a phone call from someone who hasn’t actually left Winnipeg; she just makes her home somewhere else for a good part of the year – and no, it’s not Florida, California, or Mexico – it’s in Indian Harbour, Nova Scotia, near Peggy’s Cove – well-known as a tourist destination.
The person who called was Naomi Levine, a name very familiar to many Winnipeggers. Naomi told me she was calling from Nova Scotia, where she has been living for part of the year since she and her late husband, Judge Ian Dubienski, fell in love with the area many years ago.
Nova Scotia? you might wonder. Well, Atlantic Canada doesn’t have a very large Jewish population – only about 7,000. Halifax, which is a 45-minute drive from Peggy’s Cove) – although it doesn’t have a huge Jewish population (2,735 according to the 2021 census) has had significant growth in its Jewish population since the last time figures had been reported (in the 2011 National Household Survey). Of all Canadian cities, only Victoria has shown a more rapid growth relative to what had been reported in the NHS.
During that initial phone call from Naomi, in which she informed me that she had recently been elected president of the Atlantic Jewish Council, I asked her to email me some information about how she came to find herself in that role. During subsequent emails that went back and forth I asked Naomi to flesh out more about her life, her career, and her marriages to two very well known Winnipeggers: (Judge) Ian Dubienski and Arthur Mauro (both of whom have passed on).
What followed was a fascinating series of emails, each one leading me to ask even more questions about Naomi’s very interesting life. What follows is a detailed account largely taken from her own emails, in which she writes about her new role as president of the Atlantic Jewish Council and how she came to find herself in that role. We’ve rearranged her emails first to give some background about Naomi’s life prior to her becoming president of the Atlantic Jewish Council, but in between we’ve also included some information she sent about her involvement as a volunteer, not only with the Winnipeg Jewish community, but with a plethora of organizations outside the Jewish community:
By the way, before you read Naomi’s very interesting life story, here is some information about the Atllantic Jewish Council, taken from its website: “The Atlantic Jewish Council (AJC) has been the cornerstone of Jewish life in the Atlantic Canadian provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland & Labrador) since 1975, acting as the organized Jewish community’s representative and program/service provider for non-religious matters. With only a small staff complement and a modest budget, the AJC relies on the support of over 100 volunteers across Atlantic Canada to move the needle on (its) strategic priorities.”
Here, then, is Naomi’s story:
“My parents were Lou and Sophie Levine. My dad’s parents came from Propoysk, in Belarus. His mother’s maiden name was Duboff.
“My dad owned LONG’s HAT’S MENSWEAR, on Portage Avenue – with Harry Stuart, but around 1958 he became a commercial and estate appraiser, working out of Aronovich and Leipsic. After retirement, he sat on the City of Winnipeg’s tax review board and was instrumental in developing an accredited real estate program. He had been very involved with B’nai Brith and was Chair of Hillel. It was my dad who brought Reb Zalman Schachter to Winnipeg to be the rabbi for Hillel.
“My mother’s maiden name was Bookhalter. Her mother’s maiden name was Lockshin. My mom’s family was from Novozybkov, near Chernobyl. Her grandfather was the pivotal founder of the Lubavitcher Synagogue. Her dad, Pinyeh Bookhalter, owned a garment factory – Ontario Garment, on Princess Street. My mom did her B.A. at the University of Manitoba and worked for her dad before marrying. She was supposed to have gone to medical school but, she said, my dad cried for two weeks, so she married him.
“I have one younger brother, Martin Levine, who was with the Canadian Foreign Service, and who specialized in immigration policy. He lives in Ottawa and continues to present lectures to Canadian immigration lawyers.
“I went to Talmud Torah until Grade 10 and then had to switch to Grant Park High School because we moved to the south end. The difference (in my view) was enormous. At Talmud Torah, we learned to love study, reading, learning. At Grant Park, we learned to date.
“After my B.A., (1968), I did a Master’s Degree in Irish Theatre – not a very marketable commodity. I went into Law at the U of M and graduated with an LL.B. In 1976. I articled with the Manitoba Department of Prosecutions and was called to the Bar in 1977. I then moved to Ottawa for three years (with my husband, Ian (Judge) Dubienski, and worked in the policy wing of the Department of Justice. When we came back to Winnipeg, I developed my own practice – primarily in criminal law, also in human and civil rights law.
“In 1991, I changed from being a ‘courtroom’ lawyer to delve into the world of harassment – sexual, emotional and criminal; conflict of interest; and abuse of power. I had two offices – at the University of Winnipeg and at Red River College, and conducted inquiries for them and for other clients, such as governments, hospitals, universities, public schools, arts organizations, sports organizations, churches and others. I joined an American association called the National Association of College and University Attorneys and presented on matters related to freedom of speech and expression, comparing the differences in interpretation between Canada and the States.
“My late husband, Ian Dubienski, had been Chief Judge of Manitoba’s Provincial Court and was seconded by then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to look at sentencing principles across Canada. I travelled with him and have been to all the provinces and territories.
“In 1979, Ian and I decided we wanted, eventually, to have a home in Nova Scotia. We had been visiting three times a year, fell in love with the area, and bought a house in July 1997. Later, in 2003, I bought a house in Indian Harbour, on the Aspotogan peninsula – which is where I live now – when I’m in Nova Scotia. Indian Harbour is a few miles from Peggy’s Cove and about 1/2 hour from Halifax.
“Ian and I had two dogs (a malamute and a bouvier). Our bouvier, Teuchter (Gaelic for ‘farmer’; not Jewish for ‘daughter’) died two weeks before Ian.
“Ian died of cancer in January 1998. For 10 years I drove my malamute, ‘Fleurie,’ back and forth between Winnipeg and Nova Scotia. Fleurie was with me for five years in the house in Indian Harbour before she too, died.
“Five years after Ian’s death, I met Arthur (Mauro). I had been associated with an international organization that negotiated for peace in war-torn countries and, when I read about Arthur’s founding the Institute for Peace and Justice at the U of M, I decided to meet him, in October 2001. It led to marriage in January of 2003. (Arthur Mauro died two years ago – in 2023.)
“I still sit on the Board of the Mauro Institute for Peace and Justice.”
“In 2000, the Canadian government amended the National Defence Act, to form the Canadian Forces Grievance Board, as an arms-length tribunal to sit, quasi judicially on all matters concerning the Canadian Armed Forces. I was one of the four judges who were appointed to that board. While I lived in and practiced law in Winnipeg, I had an office in Ottawa and sat on cases across the country. I was taken to every base in Canada and was impressed with the dedication and commitment of Canada’s Army, Air Force and Navy. I served in that position for seven years.
“I also became a journalist. I had started my involvement with Peter.Gzowski on his morning show, appearing somewhat regularly to talk about anything from cod fishing off Newfoundland, to food service on Air Canada. Then, CBC Manitoba asked me to do a weekly piece called ‘Levine’s Law.’ Terry McLeod was then the host and every Tuesday morning, he and I would talk about issues of international, national and local concern. I would analyze those issues from legal and ethical standpoints. I loved working with Terry. He was and is a mensch and an excellent interviewer.”
Now retired, in another email Naomi wrote some more about her career:
“After I retired from practice the then dean of the Asper School of Business, Glen Feltham, asked me to develop the Executive MBA program. I also became the Director of the Centre for Higher Education, Research and Development, situated at the University of Manitoba, which trains all presidents, vice-presidents and deans of Canadian colleges and universities.
“I finally retired completely when Arthur decided he wanted to spend four months a year in Palm Desert. I had done some painting, and found a wonderful art studio that I go to four days a week in Palm Desert. And I became a volunteer for the Palm Springs Jewish Film Festival.
“I’ve been fortunate in being able to have a wonderful group of friends in Winnipeg, Nova Scotia and Palm Desert. Arthur had been declining over a period of three years and died, at 96 years, in August 2023. Those three years were very difficult. My life was consumed with trying to keep Arthur alive and engaged. I had no time for anything, or anyone else. My ‘respite’ was my weekly modern Hebrew tutorial through the Rosen School of Hebrew, and occasional trips to Nova Scotia.
(Ed. note: I had asked Naomi to describe in some detail her career, but I was floored when she sent me a list of the boards and committees on which she served while she was in Winnipeg. You can read Naomi’s full resumé at the end of this article.)
But, here’s one paragraph that describes some of Naomi’s eclectic interests – outside of law and volunteering on a host of committees:
“I received an Homorary Doctorate of Laws (LL.D.) from the University of Manitoba in 2019. I was Chair of the Board of the Winnipeg Art Gallery for a number of years. When I’m in Palm Desert I paint and one of my pieces, a portrait of Ariel Sharon, was in the recent Jewish artists show at the Rady JCC. I’m painting a series of Israeli prime ministers.”
“For seven years I represented Manitoba in the National Board of the Confederation Centre for the Arts in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.”
As previously noted, Naomi went to Talmud Torah for 10 years, and later she went to Israel during the Six Dar War. She writes that she remains “an avid Zionist. I take a weekly Modern Hebrew tutorial with my tutor from the Rosen School of Hebrew, accredited by the Hebrew University.”
“I have only one cousin in Winnipeg – Sheryl Levine, but she is much younger than I am and we hadn’t been close. That has changed and now we are. Also, my cousin – Marc Levine’s son – Hart and his family , live in Winnipeg. I haven’t been seeing them as often as they or I would like, but that will change too.
But, as Arthur was dying, I found two new friends who are now my ‘family’: Lorne and Paulette Weiss (and their children, Richard and Allison). I have no idea how I would have managed without their kindness, generosity, love and their two border terriers. I have always adored dogs but had none after my malamute died, so ‘Maize’ and ‘Lucie’ are my joy. Paulette and I met through a MahJong class at the Rady, but I had known Lorne years ago. He was, then, an extremely intelligent and very engaging young man and, now, many years later, he is still clever, very funny, analytical and passionate about his family, his friends and his two border terriers. Lorne is one of the most generous people I know with a desire and ability to help others. Paulette has a pure heart; she is intuitive, and loving, and everything she does, is done with style and class. My extremely good luck is in their making me part of their family. Lorne and I were two of six young people who volunteered and were sent to Israel to help in 1967, during the Six Day War. He was then a lovely young man and he has become a lovely older man. And Paulette is pure heart.
“I now divide my time between Winnipeg, Nova Scotia and Palm Desert. My new position, as president of the Atlantic Jewish Council, is a wonderful opportunity to give back to Atlantic Canada, a place that has been so good to me. And, to be able to get involved not only in its Jewish life but in the Canadian Jewish community at large. I suspect that few people of my age have the good fortune to be starting a new and exciting adventure.
“It is my view that many Canadians, particularly Westerners, have no or little familiarity with Atlantic Canada and its Jewish communities.
“The first Canadian city that most Jewish settlers saw was Halifax, when they entered Canada through Pier 21, which operated from 1895-1915. Now, Pier 21 is the repository for all the records of the immigrants who came to Canada, and many Jewish people can track their ancestors’ arrivals through the research room of The Canadian Museum for Immigration in Pier 21, on the Halifax waterfront. Their records go back to around 1865.
“My responsibilities as president of the Atlantic Jewish Council will be to act as the voice of the Atlantic Jewish community, to support and connect them to Israel; to engage Jewish youth through Hillel and its camp (Camp Kadimah); to educate about the Holocaust and human rights; to foster relations with governments and non Jewish organizations; and to support Israel.
“While the Jewish population of Atlantic Canada is small, it is growing. Jewish immigrants, mainly from Israel and Russia are settling there and others are being encouraged to come. The Jewish communities are extremely active and involved in Yidishkeit, the celebration of Jewish life and support of Israel. The synagogues are Orthodox and Reform. As well, Chabad has a large presence, as does Hillel.
“When I was asked to take this position, I was excited about the possibility of making connections between the Atlantic Jewish community and the rest of Canada. My first phone call was to Jeff Lieberman (CEO of the Jewish Federation of Manitoba), and we were both excited about the possibility of joint initiatives.
“I will not be leaving Winnipeg, even as I spend a great deal of time in Atlantic Canada. I am still very involved in organizations in Winnipeg. I remain Chair of the Investments Committee of the Shaarey Zedek, and am a committee member of the Women’s’ Endowment Fund of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
“I remain a passionate Zionist. I feel that, with ever-increasing antisemitism, it is important for Canadian communities to connect with each other and to support each other. “
Naomi encourages Manitobans who have an interest in Jewish Atlantic Canada to contact her. She can be reached at: Nzlevine@icloud.com.
Naomi Levine resumé:
Committee and Discipline Committee
Canada Summit of the Arts, Advocacy Committee
• ⁃ Folk Art Council of Winnipeg, representing the Irish Association of Winnipeg)
Strategy Group Canada (strategic planning in international peace building, conflict prevention and human capital development). Board Member Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, Board Member Prairie Public Broadcasting ( North Dakota), Board Member
• ⁃ Winnipeg Humane Society, Board Member
Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Manitoba, Board Member Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Board Member
Sport Manitoba,
Consultant
Sport Nova Scotia. Consultant
Denturist Association of Manitoba, Complaints Committee Scouts Canada, Manitoba Council, Honourary Scout
National Association of College and University Attorneys (USA)
• ⁃ Manitoba Arts Council, Board Member
Lawyers and Jurists for Soviet Jewry, Chair, Manitoba Region Irish Association of Manitoba, Member of the Board and Lawyer Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties Legal Aid Manitoba, Vice Chair
Manitoba Trial Lawyers Association
Manitoba Society of Criminology, Board Member Prairie Theatre Exchange, Board Member Rainbow Stage, Board Member
• ⁃ Winnipeg Jewish Theatre Association, Board Member
Winnipeg Jewish Community Council, Vice President
Features
Team Spirit: Jewish College Sports Programs Making Headlines
For many educational institutions, sports are no longer just an optional activity: they have become an important part of the educational process. They build not only physical endurance, but also social skills, values and a sense of belonging to the Jewish community, as is often written on the website jewishsportsreview.com. Let’s take a look at the place of sports in Jewish colleges.
Features of Sports Programmes
Jewish educational institutions have always placed a special emphasis on the harmonious development of the individual. However, in the past, sports activities often took a back seat to academic subjects and religious education. Today, the situation has changed: more and more colleges are realising that sports are not just physical activity, but a tool for character building.
Sports in Jewish colleges serve several key functions:
- Social integration: joint training and competitions bring together students from different departments and courses.
- Strengthening values through fair play, respect for opponents, the ability to lose gracefully and win without arrogance are fully consistent with the ethical principles accepted in Jewish culture.
- Leadership development: team captains and sports event organisers gain experience in team management and decision-making under pressure.
Participation in sports clubs helps maintain a balance between mental and physical development, which is especially important for students who often have a heavy academic workload.
Sports Programme and Discipline Opportunities
Sports programmes at Jewish colleges are diverse and tailored to the interests of students, as well as the infrastructure of the educational institutions. In addition to traditional sports such as basketball, football and volleyball, the schedule may include baseball, tennis, table tennis and even sports related to historical or cultural traditions.
Interestingly, some colleges take Jewish holidays and Shabbat into account when drawing up their sports calendars so that training sessions and competitions do not clash with religious obligations. Students can combine sporting achievements with preserving their cultural identity.
Participation in intercollegiate tournaments is becoming an important element of sports programmes. This is not only a test of skill, but also an opportunity to represent one’s college at the regional or national level, creating a positive image for the educational institution. In such tournaments, the emphasis is often not only on winning, but also on the ability to behave in the spirit of fair play, which creates a special atmosphere of friendship and mutual respect between teams.
Impact on Student Life and Career
Sport in Jewish colleges plays a significant role in shaping the student experience. It helps students develop skills that are in demand not only in sport but also in any area of life: the ability to work in a team, make quick decisions and take responsibility for results.
Many graduates who participated in sports programmes note that this experience proved useful in building their careers. For example:
- Team leaders subsequently demonstrate high managerial competence at work.
- Players who are used to constant training and discipline adapt more easily to stress and deadlines.
- Participants in intercollegiate games gain public speaking and networking skills that help in business negotiations.
In addition to career advantages, sport improves health and reduces stress levels, which is especially important for students who are balancing their studies with community projects and religious obligations. The atmosphere of support and mutual assistance created by sports teams helps many students adapt to college life more easily, especially if they have come from another city or country.
Joining a sports team or regular training can become an important part of student life. Those considering this option should take several factors into account:
- Assess your goals: do you want to play sports professionally or just to stay in shape and socialise? This will help you choose the right level of commitment.
- Check your schedule to make sure that training does not conflict with your studies or religious obligations.
- Take advantage of college resources: many institutions offer free gyms, coaching, and access to sports clubs.
It is equally important to remember that sport is not just about winning. It teaches patience, respect for others and a willingness to work hard. At Jewish colleges, sports programmes are designed to combine these values with cultural and spiritual elements, making them unique.
Sports programmes at Jewish colleges become a space where traditional values are organically intertwined with modern approaches to education and leisure. For many students, participating in college sports is just as important as academic success. After all, team spirit, the ability to work together and support each other are qualities that stay with a person for life.
Features
The Jewish Federation isn’t evolving on Israel. So it’s losing young Jews like me
By Lahav ZakenAugust 8, 2025
This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward’s free email newsletters delivered to your inbox.
I’m a Jewish Israeli American teenager and North Carolina resident, and I was delighted to see that the North Carolina Democratic party recently approved new platform resolutions that called for an arms embargo against Israel, a ceasefire, and the release of the hostages. Very few people and organizations have managed to articulate my views of both Oct. 7 and the subsequent genocide as well as my state party’s resolutions did. Unfortunately, it seems that my perspective is not very welcome at my local Jewish Federation.
I was particularly gratified by how balanced the resolutions were. They directly condemned the deliberate killing of innocent civilians by both parties and called for the end of the war. The resolutions also condemned antisemitism and Islamophobia, condemned Hamas and the Oct. 7 terrorist attack and decried both Hamas and Israel’s human rights violations. They advocated for basic human rights, dignity and peace for all Israelis and Palestinians.
Yet somehow, this language advocating for peace was objectionable to the Jewish Federation. The CEOs of the Jewish Federations of Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte and Greensboro released a statement attacking the resolutions. Their biggest objection was to the resolutions’ use of the terms “apartheid” and “ethnic cleansing,” which they specifically singled out as “radical and inflammatory.” They argued that the resolutions ignored Oct. 7 and undermined Israel’s right to self-defense. They even went so far as to accuse the Democratic Party of devaluing the “safety, identity, and lived experiences” of Jewish Americans.
I strongly disagree with the Jewish Federations and believe the statement they released was deeply harmful and inaccurate. While the federations may still be a hub of Jewish institutional power and influence, their perspectives on Israel and Gaza and continuing unconditional support of Israel’s actions do not represent many American Jews.
This statement is not an isolated incident, but an example of the ongoing silencing of the perspectives of an increasing number of American Jews by Jewish Federations across the country and Jewish institutions and youth groups more broadly.
I am just about as Jewish as you can get. I was born in Israel and lived in Jerusalem until I was 4, when my family moved to Greensboro, North Carolina. I did not visit Israel for most of my childhood, but I still felt an extremely strong connection to my home country. Growing up, I ate Israeli food, listened to Israeli music and watched Israeli shows. I attended Jewish day school, I volunteer with my local synagogue and know most Jewish services by heart. In 2023, I traveled back to Israel on a school trip led by the Jewish National Fund. I genuinely loved getting to see my home city and country for the first time that I could vividly remember.
However, my connection to my country of birth has almost completely eroded following almost two years of non-stop war and aggression in Gaza. I am enraged and heartbroken that Jewish Institutions will not recognize or acknowledge that pain.
Like most Jews and Israelis, my gut reaction after Oct. 7 was to stand strong with Israel. I was horrified by the atrocities Hamas committed that day. I wanted to wave the flag of my birth country more strongly, to support Israel’s right to defend its civilians and demand the hostages be freed.
However, after months of seeing satellite images of the complete devastation of Gaza and reading testimonials from doctors and journalists describing the humanitarian crisis, my perspective has shifted. I couldn’t help changing my mind when I saw hostage families being beaten by police in the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for calling for a ceasefire, or when I read statements from Israeli leaders making it clear that their goals were to destroy the entire population of Gaza. I do not hold Israel to a different standard than any other country, no matter my love and connection to it. It is precisely my Jewish values that have pushed me to speak out so strongly against Israel’s unjustifiable actions in Gaza.
I believe two wrongs do not make a right. What Hamas did was immoral. And the genocidal war of aggression that Israel has waged on the people of Gaza is also immoral. I am horrified and ashamed to see tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians killed, including the deliberate targeting of aid seekers at distribution sites. If I, as an Israeli-born teenager, can acknowledge the atrocities committed by Israel and that multiple things can be true at the same time, why can’t Jewish institutions?
For those reasons, along with the sheer brutality and immorality of the war, more and more American Jews oppose Israel’s government and their war on the people of Gaza. Unfortunately, those who dare to express opposition are being isolated and alienated from their Federations, synagogues and youth groups. All of these institutions explicitly and implicitly manufacture total support for the Israeli government and its actions.
The North Carolina Federations’ statement not only blatantly misrepresents the state Democratic party’s resolutions by falsely implying that they are apologists for Hamas, but also misleadingly implies they speak for all or most Jewish North Carolinians. A November 2024 J Street poll of Jewish Americans found 61% support an arms embargo against Israel. As of June 2024, according to a poll conducted by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 30% of Jewish Americans believe that Israel is committing genocide, a number that has undoubtedly risen since then.
The Federation leaders are completely right to be concerned about the extreme rise in antisemitism since Oct. 7. I have had multiple personal run-ins with antisemitism since Oct. 7. Someone close to me experienced identity-based discrimination in a local progressive organization we are both a part of because they are Israeli-American and worked as a journalist in Israel. I have repeatedly been subjected to antisemitic comments online, and was once told that I should join the Israel Defense Force after I condemned the killing of innocent civilians on Oct. 7, implying that being Israeli and opposing the killing of innocent Israeli civilians meant that I somehow enjoyed killing Palestinian civilians.
Many Jews in America have had similar experiences, and I have no doubt that Jewish Federation and Jewish institutional leaders care deeply about fighting antisemitism and keeping their Jewish communities safe. However, statements like the North Carolina Federation heads made do not keep us safe.
When a local Jewish Federation, synagogue or youth movement chapter releases statements claiming that they stand fully with Israel in the conflict, they are isolating and ignoring those of us who offer critiques of Israel’s actions and policies. If these actions continue, millions of American Jews across the country will be pushed out of Jewish institutions, excluded from Jewish spaces and have their Jewishness questioned over their stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza. This is, unfortunately, already happening.
The reality is that in 2025, most American Jews do not stand unconditionally with Israel anymore. If Jewish federations and other institutions want to be the inclusive spaces for all Jews that they claim to be, then they must adapt to this reality.
If groups such as the Jewish Federations cannot reflect American Jewish opinion in 2025 or acknowledge the isolation from Israel that more and more American Jews feel, then millions of Jewish Americans with perspectives such as mine will be erased from the institutions designed to make us feel most at home.
Lahav Zaken is a junior at New Garden Friends School and a local progressive organizer in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forward. Discover more perspectives in Opinion. To contact Opinion authors, email opinion@forward.com.
This story was originally published on the Forward.
Features
Will Former Soviet States Join the Abraham Accords?
By HENRY SREBRNIK President Donald Trump’s administration has been discussing with Azerbaijan the possibility of bringing that nation and some Central Asian allies into the Abraham Accords. During his first term in office, four Muslim-majority countries agreed to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. It is now closer to fruition.
The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, were a historic step and are considered a breakthrough in Israel’s relations with Arab states. On the surface, these agreements with Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates, heralded not only diplomatic engagement but also the normalization of ties in every field, including technology, economy, tourism, security, and agriculture.
While the original Accords were centered on diplomatic ties, Azerbaijan and every country in Central Asia already has relations with Israel, meaning that an expansion of the Accords to include them would largely be symbolic, focusing on strengthening ties in areas like trade and military cooperation.
Although the Abraham Accords were initially agreements over Israeli-Arab normalization, the pacts have since transcended Arab borders into a high-profile forum that can incorporate Muslim countries committed to shared values of tolerance, peace, and prosperity.
Wedged between Russia to the north and Iran to the south, Azerbaijan occupies a critical link in trade flows between Central Asia and the West. The Caucasus and Central Asia are also rich in natural resources, including oil and gas, prompting various major powers to compete for influence in the region.
Azerbaijan normalized relations and trade with the Jewish state in the early 1990s, shortly after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. Since then, ties have quietly flourished under the stewardship first of Heydar Aliyev and subsequently that of his son, Ilham.
Last year, trade between the two countries reached nearly one billion dollars, mainly in the energy and defence sectors. Azerbaijan has become Israel’s critical energy partner, supplying more than 60 per cent of its gasoline needs. It has also become Israel’s second-largest defence customer, accounting for nearly a tenth of all Israeli defence exports between 2018 and 2022.
Russia, Azerbaijan’s Soviet-era political master, is currently preoccupied with its war in Ukraine, leaving it with little ability to interfere in the South Caucasus. Meanwhile, Iran, Azerbaijan’s southern neighbor and ideological challenger, is now at its weakest political point in decades, with minimal influence in the country’s internal affairs through religious appeal or sectarian outreach, as it has tried to do in previous years.
Kazakhstan also enjoys strong ties with Israel, and Astana benefits from advanced Israeli agriculture, medical, water, and security technology. The Abraham Accords provide an opportunity to further deepen security and economic cooperation and could help the country reduce its economic dependence on Russia and China at a time when such dependence is proving to be a liability.
Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, in March to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. As part of the discussions, Azerbaijani officials contacted officials in Central Asian nations, including in nearby Kazakhstan, to gauge their interest in a broader Abraham Accords expansion. For Azerbaijan, the Accords could provide a path to expanded security cooperation against Iranian threats and, if pursued in coordination with Kazakhstan, progress towards its goal of becoming a bridge to Central Asia
Joseph Epstein of the Turan Research Center at the New York-based Yorktown Institute, a non-partisan program dedicated to exploring modern-day developments in the Turkic and Persian worlds, argues that bringing Azerbaijan into the Abraham Accords would signal to Muslim majority states in Central Asia that open cooperation with Israel is both possible and worthwhile. It would also squeeze Tehran which sees a secular Shia state aligned with Israel and Turkey as a strategic problem.
“When President Donald Trump shared a clip of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s speech at the Shusha Global Media Forum on Truth Social, it wasn’t just a friendly gesture,” Epstein explained. “It signaled that Azerbaijan’s partnership with Israel and the United States is now firmly on his radar.”
At a time when the United States was trying to get the Abraham Accords back on track, all of this was certainly encouraging. But a sticking point remained: Azerbaijan’s conflict with its neighbor Armenia. The Trump administration considered a peace deal between the two Caucasus nations as a precondition to join the Abraham Accords. The breakthrough came on Aug. 8, when Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint letter officially indicating their willingness to end their conflict.
The pact also gives the U.S. exclusive rights to develop a transit route through a mountainous stretch of Armenian territory between Azerbaijan known as the Zangezur corridor. It will connect Azerbaijan proper with its Nakhchivan region, which borders Baku’s ally Turkey via Armenian territory. The new transit corridor will allow unimpeded connectivity between the two countries while respecting Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and its people. The securing of that route also marks a significant setback for Russia and Iran in the South Caucasus. Restrictions were also lifted on defence co-operation between Azerbaijan and the United States.
Trump framed the agreement as a “peace deal,” writing on Truth Social that “Many Leaders have tried to end the War, with no success, until now.” This is another feather in a potential Trump Nobel Peace Prize cap.
Henry Srebrnik is a professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island.