Rabbi Hier: ‘This is a phenomenal time to bring Azerbaijan into the Abraham Accords'
In an interview this week, Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the rabbi who blessed US President Donald Trump at his 2017 inauguration, reaffirmed his call for the United States to expand the Abraham Accords and welcome Azerbaijan as a new signatory.
Referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming White House meeting with President Trump, Hier called this 'a phenomenal time' for bringing Baku into the regional peace framework.
Azerbaijan and Israel have enjoyed close relations for more than 30 years. The secular, Shiite-majority state on Iran's northern border supplies a significant share of Israel's oil, buys Israeli defense equipment and shelters an ancient Jewish community. A recent Forbes analysis described Azerbaijan as a natural candidate to join the Abraham Accords, citing its role as an energy bridge between East and West and its close ties with Israel. According to the report, bringing Baku into the framework could boost regional energy stability and help curb Iran's disruptive influence.
Hier praised Azerbaijan's decision to include Holocaust studies in its national curriculum and to openly support its Jewish community. 'Azerbaijan now teaches the Holocaust in its schools and its government openly supports its thriving Jewish community,' he noted. He added that these steps show why Azerbaijan 'should join the Abraham Accords — that would be a terrific thing.'
He argued that Azerbaijan's inclusion would send Iran a powerful signal after the recent conflict. 'It would be a clear message that any aggression would be faced with a united front,' Hier warned, calling the current Iranian regime 'an absolute disgrace… a reincarnation of what was once done by Adolf Hitler.'
Asked whether Azerbaijan's move could inspire other countries, Hier said he sees a clear ripple effect. 'I think it would be a domino effect. There are many people in the Arab world who are sick and tired of the extremists and would tell their governments to do what Azerbaijan did.'
During the conversation, Hier also recalledthe letter he recently sent to Trump, praising his leadership for reshaping the Middle East and urging him to take 'this bold step toward a stronger, more united region.' In that letter, he described Azerbaijan as 'a true ally and a bridge between East and West.'
Hier, who has repeatedly called the Abraham Accords a historic breakthrough for genuine coexistence, concluded that he hopes President Trump will seize this 'phenomenal moment' to widen the circle of peace.
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