Today in History (September 21st, 1981)
On this day, in 1981, United Nation recognized 21st September as International Day of Peace to promote peace, harmony, and non-violence among nations and people.
Summary of Today’s News
Moon Agreement
The Moon Agreement of 1979 addresses the use of the Moon and celestial bodies. It restricts resource exploitation from these bodies and asserts that they belong to all of humanity. The agreement emphasizes peaceful use, prohibiting military bases or weapons on celestial bodies. Despite its involvement in drafting, the United States did not ratify the agreement. India is a signatory but has not yet ratified it.
Artemis Accords
The Artemis Accords, established by the U.S. and seven other nations in 2020, build upon the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. They serve as non-binding principles guiding international cooperation in 21st century lunar exploration. Currently, it has 27 signatories, including India. The Artemis program aims for permanent lunar settlements and encompasses a lunar base, spacecraft, a space station (Lunar Gateway), and a satellite constellation.
Abraham Accords
The Abraham Accords refer to the official Israel-UAE normalization agreement established on August 13, 2020. It marked a historic development as the UAE became the third Arab nation, and the first in the Persian Gulf, to formally normalize relations with Israel. The Accords, named after the prophet Abraham, signified a significant shift in Middle East geopolitics. The treaties involve the establishment of embassies and ambassadorial exchanges between the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel. Additionally, cooperation in various sectors like tourism, trade, healthcare, and security was outlined. The Abraham Accords also granted Muslims worldwide the ability to visit Israel’s historic sites and pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
The broader historical context includes the antagonistic relations between Israel and the Arab world since Israel’s establishment in 1948. This was primarily centered around the issue of Palestinian sovereignty, leading to multiple conflicts. Notable events include the 1956 Suez crisis, the 1967 Six-Day War, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Egypt’s recognition of Israel in the Camp David Accords of 1979 marked a pivotal shift. Subsequent agreements, such as the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995, aimed to establish peace between Israel and Palestine, but faced challenges, leading to periods of unrest. The Abraham Accords, involving the UAE and Bahrain, signified a significant step towards regional stability and cooperation.
