NEW YORK — Kazakhstan formally announced that it will join the Abraham Accords in a symbolic expansion of the diplomatic initiative that began in 2020, U.S. and international officials confirmed Thursday. The move was welcomed by Jewish and interfaith leaders as evidence of growing regional acceptance of Israel.
Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, praised Kazakhstan’s decision and highlighted his own diplomatic ties to the Central Asian country. Schneier said he discussed the initiative with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during meetings in Astana and welcomed the country’s public support for a two-state solution. He also used the announcement to urge New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to adopt a clearer, pro-peace stance toward Israel.
“I welcome Kazakhstan’s decision to join the Abraham Accords,” Schneier said in a public post. “I am proud to have discussed this initiative with President Tokayev during our several meetings in Astana. In joining the Abraham Accords, how ironic that yet another Muslim-majority country is publicly demonstrating its support for a two-state solution, while New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a democratic Jewish nation. He must get on the peace train before history leaves him behind.”
Kazakhstan already maintains formal diplomatic relations with Israel, dating back to the early 1990s. Still, officials and analysts described the decision as a symbolic boost for the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-backed initiative that has sought to normalize ties between Israel and Muslim-majority states since 2020. The move comes amid U.S. diplomatic efforts to broaden the accords’ reach and to reinforce cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, and security.
The announcement drew praise from Jewish communal leaders who have framed the Accords as a rare area of consensus across varied political and religious lines. Schneier, a long-time promoter of interfaith dialogue, has longstanding ties to Kazakhstan’s interreligious initiatives. In 2023, he received an award from the Secretariat of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana in recognition of his interfaith work.
Schneier’s public rebuke of Mayor-elect Mamdani reflects broader concern among many Jewish leaders about statements Mamdani has made during his mayoral campaign. Critics point to past remarks in which Mamdani has harshly criticized Israeli policy and, in some high-profile settings, used language that alarmed Jewish groups. Those concerns were cited by mainstream Jewish organizations and editorial commentators during the campaign. Schneier and others say local leaders should affirm the city’s commitment to Jewish safety and to Israel’s right to exist as a democratic Jewish state.
Supporters of Mamdani say his record also includes condemnations of Hamas and outreach to Jewish voters, and they note his recent assurances that he takes antisemitism seriously. The debate over his views on Israel has become a defining issue in New York civic life, provoking strong responses from both Jewish communal leaders and progressive activists.
For Rabbi Schneier, Kazakhstan’s entry into the Accords is both a diplomatic win for Israel and a validation of long-standing interfaith work. He framed the decision as proof that Muslim-majority countries can publicly support peace and coexistence, and he urged American municipal leaders to follow a similar path.
Observers said Kazakhstan’s symbolic accession may bolster momentum behind the Abraham Accords and offer practical cooperation opportunities. U.S. officials and Israel’s government hailed the move as reinforcing ties with Central Asia and signaling continued diplomatic traction after a turbulent period in the region.
Thank you for reading. If you value independent Jewish journalism, help keep our reporting free and reliable, share this article, subscribe for regular coverage, or donate $10, $25, or $50 today.
Every gift powers timely, trusted reporting and amplifies pro-Israel voices defending Jewish rights worldwide. Donate now.
This article is based on verified information from Reuters, The Associated Press, Al Jazeera, the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, TheJ.ca, and reporting by Times of Israel and The Guardian.