While negotiations were underway between Iran and the United States to reach an agreement to end the war, U.S. President Donald Trump called upon states in the Middle East and beyond to join the so-called Abraham Accords. On Monday, May 25, 2026, CNN reported, “U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that Middle Eastern and other states sign the Abraham Accords—making it a mandatory requirement—following the conclusion of a deal to end the war with Iran, while simultaneously threatening military action ‘greater and more powerful than ever before’ should the parties fail to reach an agreement to resolve the conflict.” In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “I am mandatorily requesting that all Countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords, and that, ⁠if Iran signs its Agreement with me, as President of the United States of America, it would be an Honor to have them also be ​part of this unparalleled World Coalition.” Trump added that he had discussed the matter in phone calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Bahrain. He asserted that joining the Abraham Accords should be a fundamental prerequisite. This indicates that the Trump administration has made the expansion of the Abraham Accords a key objective of its war effort and foreign policy, thereby raising questions regarding the nature of the Accords and the purpose behind their expansion. Years before the signing of the Abraham Accords, there was—and remains—considerable discussion in the West, as well as within political and academic circles aligned with ruling regimes, regarding the concept of an “Abrahamic religion.” This idea advocates for merging the three Abrahamic faiths, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism—along with various offshoots, such as the Druze, Nusayris, and Ismailis—into a single new religion; efforts are even underway to incorporate faiths unrelated to Abraham, such as Buddhism.

Islamic institutions and figures have categorically rejected this concept, citing its explicit contradiction of Islamic creed and its implications for the Palestinian cause. It is evident that the “Abrahamic religion” project is a calculated scheme targeting religions—particularly Islam. Proponents of the project began by advocating for interfaith rapprochement, then moved toward unification, ultimately aiming to fuse these faiths into a single global religion. One manifestation of this is the Abrahamic Family House complex established by the UAE in Abu Dhabi which houses places of worship for all three faiths in a single location. This was followed by initiatives such as binding the Quran, the Torah, and the Bible within a single cover, and organizing joint prayer services—dubbed the “Abrahamic Prayer” or the “Prayer of the Children of Abraham”—that bring together Jews, Christians, and Muslims. These activities aim to dismantle the psychological barriers between the region's Muslim populations and the Jews occupying the Blessed Land.

A close observer will note that the term “Abrahamism” is not merely religious; it carries significant political dimensions, serving as a precursor to a political project for the region—variously referred to as an “Abrahamic Federation,” the United States of Abraham,” or the “New Middle East.” Such a political project requires a new cultural and civilizational narrative to provide it with legitimacy and continuity. Consequently, the Abrahamic symbol is employed as a key tool to overcome obstacles hindering the phased progress toward achieving the long-term goal of “Abrahamism.” Tourism and economic normalization projects are also utilized for this purpose. Discourse regarding Abrahamic projects did not originate in the last five years, nor did it stem from the normalization agreements dubbed the “Abraham Accords” in 2020. Instead, it predates them by many years. Therefore, here is the outline of the origins of these terms and the contexts in which they have been used:

First: Abrahamic Federalism or the United States of Abraham

When the phrase “Abrahamic Federalism” arises in contemporary Arab discourse, it rarely refers to a religious concept; instead, it signifies a political project or vision that leverages the Abrahamic symbol to justify a form of partnership, cooperation, or regional political union among the peoples and states of the so-called Middle East. This vision is grounded in the concept of a “shared Abrahamic heritage,” envisioning a leadership structure centered on the Jewish entity and Turkey—with Arab and Iranian participation—all under American auspices.

Discussions regarding these political projects began in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union, a period when U.S. President George Bush popularized the term “New Middle East.” In 1993, following the signing of the Oslo Accords, Shimon Peres championed this “New Middle East” concept and authored a book with the title “The New Middle East.” It is well known that Peres held several high-ranking positions within the Jewish entity over the years, serving as Foreign Minister, Prime Minister, and eventually President. Subsequently, strategic research on this subject began to emerge from American think tanks. Francis Fukuyama posited the idea of ​​the American model's supremacy in his book “The End of History and the Last Man”; later, in 2010, he revised his views, suggesting that this supremacy would be achieved through the fusion of religions. U.S. President Barack Obama employed the term "global religion" in a 2013 speech. Harvard University hosted various academic seminars and discussions regarding the concept of “Abrahamism,” Abrahamic initiatives, and their political and economic implications—all years before the signing of the Abraham Accords.

In 2011, a specialized unit was established within the U.S. State Department known as the “Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society.” This unit was less a traditional US State Department bureau and more an institutional initiative launched by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to establish regular channels of communication between the Department and civil society organizations worldwide. It brought together fifty diplomats and fifty individuals designated as “spiritual leaders” from the Arab region or the Middle East—referring to clergy from the three Abrahamic faiths, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The initiative’s stated objectives included:

- Direct engagement with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), activists, and civil society associations, rather than solely with governments.

- Soliciting policy recommendations from civil society regarding democracy, human rights, governance, women’s issues, labor, religion, and foreign policy.

- Supporting and protecting civil society organizations facing restrictions or pressure from their respective governments.

In practice, the initiative established specialized working groups and expanded communication between U.S. embassies and civil society organizations across dozens of countries. The U.S. administration also noted that the State Department adopted several recommendations resulting from this dialogue into its policies. Thus, the initiative served as a vehicle for fostering civic engagement and supporting elites and NGOs, while influencing political and social discourse within other nations. Terms such as “Abrahamic Federalism” and “United Abrahamic States” circulated during these discussions. The underlying objective was to leverage the significant influence of religious figures in the Middle East and the Arab world to advance “Abrahamic” projects. During this period, the U.S. State Department employed the term “spiritual diplomacy” as a means of harnessing religion to serve political agendas—specifically, the broader U.S. strategy in the Middle East.

Following the Obama administration, Donald Trump assumed the presidency for his first term, laying the practical and operational foundations for a broader framework known as the “Deal of the Century.” The US administration has maintained a degree of secrecy regarding the details of this plan. Jared Kushner, the US President’s advisor and Middle East envoy, indicated that this secrecy regarding the “Deal of the Century” project is intentional, as premature disclosure of details tends to drive politicians away from the plan. Kushner revealed some of these details during a private interview with Sky News Arabia on February 25, 2019, outlining the key principles of the Middle East peace plan. He explained that the plan aims to properly integrate the “Israeli” people into the wider region and noted the possibility of altering political borders, highlighting the plan's potential economic impact on the entire region. He stated, “The political plan, which is very detailed, is really about establishing borders and resolving final status issues. However, the goal of addressing the border issue is to eliminate those borders. If we can remove borders and establish peace free from intimidation, it could ensure the free flow of people and goods, thereby creating new opportunities.” Many of the stances and statements made by Turkish officials—who align with the US orbit and implement policies serving American interests while paving the way for the integration of the Jewish entity into the region—fall within the context of promoting and laying the groundwork for the “Abrahamic Federation” project. A recent example is the political initiative discussed by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in an interview with the Japanese newspaper Nikkei Asia in Ankara on Sunday, May 31, 2026. He outlined a new, comprehensive vision for establishing a regional security architecture extending from Pakistan to the Arabian Gulf, noting the possibility of ‘Israel’ joining this framework in the future, provided it recognizes an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. He described the initiative as a “golden opportunity” for Middle Eastern states to establish a cooperative system based on mutual recognition, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The Foreign Minister explained that, in its initial phase, the proposed security platform would comprise Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other Arabian Gulf States. Fidan indicated that Iran would likely join the framework as its normalization of relations within the region progresses. He further emphasized that, should the Palestinian issue be resolved, regional states would contribute significantly to ensuring the security of the Jewish entity.

Second: The Abraham Path

This is an international cultural and tourism project launched in 2007, aimed at creating a network of long-distance walking trails that—symbolically and with approximate historical accuracy—trace the journey attributed to the Prophet Abraham (as) across various parts of the Middle East. This project originated from Harvard University initiatives and the efforts of American mediator William Ury—an expert in negotiation and conflict resolution and a co-founder of the Harvard Program on Negotiation. The concept emerged within Harvard academic circles in 2004 and evolved through exploratory trips and field studies. In 2007, the “Abraham Path Initiative” was officially launched as a US-based non-profit organization to develop the project. According to Ury, the idea was premised on the notion that the story of Abraham represents a “shared origin story” for the region’s peoples; establishing a long-distance walking trail connecting sites traditionally associated with Abraham’s journey could foster tourism, cultural exchange, and dialogue among diverse communities. Clearly, the Abraham Path project extends beyond mere tourism; it encompasses cultural and political objectives, aiming to normalize relations among people of different faiths, dissolve psychological barriers, and identify common ground—thereby paving the way for the concepts of an “Abrahamic religion” and an “Abrahamic federation.” The project relies on local partners across the various countries and regions traversed by the route associated with the journey of the Prophet Ibrahim (as). In the Palestinian Territories under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, there is a segment known as “The Abraham Path;” this network of walking trails spans numerous Palestinian areas, passing through the northern, central, and southern West Bank and extending to the Hebron (Al-Khalil) region. This segment is considered one of the project’s most prominent and active sections. Similar hiking trails exist in northern Jordan and Turkey. Plans had been envisioned to extend the route into Syria, but the political and security conditions that emerged with the onset of the Syrian revolution hindered their implementation. In the Jewish entity, there are initiatives and trails linked to the project under the name "Netiv Abraham" or “The Abraham Trail” —routes planned or developed in the Negev and Beersheba regions, linking them to the broader regional trail network. Turkey is a key area for the project; narratives suggest that the journey of Ibrahim (as) began in the Urfa (Şanlıurfa) region of southeastern Turkey. A developed route known as “Ibrahim Yolu” exists there, featuring established guesthouses and trained local guides, with local partners actively maintaining and developing the trail. In Egypt, there are partnerships and activities linked to the project, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula. Similar routes and plans exist in Iraq, especially in the Kurdistan Region.

Third: The Abraham Accords

This is a political, not religious, term referring to a series of agreements brokered by the United States to normalize relations between the Jewish entity and several Arab states. The process began in 2020 with the Gulf-Jewish agreement involving the UAE and Bahrain. Notably, the accords were not named after the sponsoring nation or the signing location—as is customary in political agreements. The US has worked—and continues to work—to expand these accords; Sudan and Morocco have since joined, and the US President is currently urging Saudi Arabia, Syria, and other Middle Eastern states to sign on. This expansion is a step toward the ultimate goal: the “Abrahamic Federation.”

Fourth: The Abrahamic Movement

The term “Abrahamic Movement” has recently emerged to describe a collection of movements, initiatives, and ideas advocating for rapprochement, dialogue, and the promotion of peaceful coexistence and political alignment among the region’s states and peoples, as well as cooperation among the followers of the three Abrahamic faiths: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, drawing upon the figure of the Prophet Ibrahim (as) as a shared figure among these religions. Tom Wegner is considered the founding pioneer of these movements; he is a Jewish politician and strategic consultant who previously served as a spokesperson for former “Israeli” Prime Minister Ehud Barak and worked as a consultant and public relations director at the Peres Center for Peace. In 2025, he authored the book “The Abrahamic Revolution: A Middle East Peace Formula.” The book is presented as the founding manifesto for what the author terms “Political Abrahamism,” serving as the intellectual foundation for the Abrahamic movement. Wegner is regarded as a leading theorist of the concept of “Abrahamic Federalism.” The goals of these Abrahamic movements extend beyond cultural objectives to promote peaceful coexistence, political rapprochement, and the construction of a regional identity among the nations and peoples of the area.

The Abrahamic movement exists within the Jewish state under this explicit name, declaring that one of its goals is to support the “Abrahamic Federalism” project as a solution to the regional conflict. The movement is also present in certain Arab countries; for instance, it operates in Iraq with a dedicated Facebook page. Its statements there acknowledge Tom Wegner’s role in its founding—describing him as a mentor and strategic expert—and articulate its vision for the region’s future using the term “United States of Abraham.” Recently, the establishment of an Abrahamic movement branch in Syria was announced. Meanwhile, across other Arab nations and Turkey, there are various centers and initiatives operating under different names, suggesting that it is not a single, unified movement with centralized leadership or a specific global organizational structure. Examples include interfaith dialogue centers, Abrahamic heritage study centers, and the Abrahamic Family House in the UAE.

These are the primary contexts in which the term “Abrahamism” is employed. Consequently, we must remain aware of the long-term objectives whenever the West and its agents speak of Abrahamism, and we must focus on exposing the conspiracies and activities that pave the way for achieving those goals. It is insufficient merely to demonstrate that the concept of an “Abrahamic religion” conflicts with Islam and contradicts the Islamic Aqeedah (doctrine); nor should those participating in interfaith dialogue activities be viewed as individuals holding abstract intellectual opinions—rather, these are dangerous political undertakings. The same applies to those implementing joint tourism initiatives, as they serve as instruments of America and the Jewish entity. Since these are political actions, they must be countered with effective political responses.