Purim in the Gulf, excitement at IDEX
With several unique Purim events planned in the Gulf and Israeli companies at IDEX, the last weeks of Israel-Gulf relations continue to be unprecedented
In Bahrain the local community is preparing for Purim. It is one of several Jewish communities around the Gulf that geared up for the festive holiday on February 25. However, under the shadow of Covid-19, many things will be done differently. That means this year is unique in several ways. Who is ready for Bahraini hamantashin, asked Ambassador Houda Nonoo on Twitter? Below you will find this week’s report on IDEX, Purim events and other developments between Israel and the Gulf.
In Mid-February the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities were announced. The AGJC is a network of the Jewish communities (people-to-people) from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries who are developing Jewish life in the region. "While each community is independent, they share a common goal and vision: for Jewish life in the GCC to flourish for the benefit of both residents and visitors," the organizers says. "Under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie, based in Dubai, and president Ebrahim Dawood Nonoo, based in Bahrain, the group is partnering on different communal programs and services so that their resources will enhance each other. The Association’s board consists of members from all six Gulf countries who together will forge the path forward for growing Jewish life in the Gulf,” a statement read.
A week later the AGJC was planning a virtual Purim that will bring people together from Oman to Kuwait. “This event is important because for so many years, the Jewish communities and individuals in the Gulf would celebrate the holidays on their own but through the AGJC, we are now able to celebrate as the broader Jewish communities of the Gulf. We can read the Megillah together and celebrate the holiday of Purim together. We are part of something much larger now and it’s very exciting!” said AGJC President Ebrahim Dawood Nonoo. Across the Gulf many are excited. Michael Sussman, a businessman currently in Dubai and CEO of Sussman Corporate Security, said that it is a real historic opportunity to participate in the virtual Purim. “It is the first time in history where representatives of the Jewish communities from across the Gulf will hear the Book of Esther being read together. It is the founding of something new. In the early days of that State of Israel, people had to be physically present to experience its creation. In the case of the GCC, people just need to click a button and can participate from their homes, wherever they are in the world. This is a very exciting time for world Jewry."
There are also 24-hour Magillah readings for Purim on February 25-26 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including one at the Marina in Dubai. We spoke to Rabbi Levi Duchman about the events. See details.
Read more about the AGJC and the Purim event here and here. The Purim event is important because it builds on other existing relationships and showcases culture and coexistence. Calligraphy artist Thoufeek Zakriya, who is based in the UAE, also participated. Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence was scheduled to speak. The King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence has sent a delegation to Israel in the past. It is one of many organizations in the Gulf that is speaking with Israeli counterparts. Many Israeli organizations and research institutes are in the process of growing partnerships in the Gulf.
Israel’s pavilion at IDEX (Courtesy Michal Divon)
IDEX and a new Ambassador
Towards that end of growing partnerships, the Israeli pavilion at IDEX opened this week from February 21 to 25. It was the first time Israel was at the important event. However constraints on travel prevented most of the hundreds of Israelis who sought to attend from flying. Instead many of the companies scrambled to have locals or subsidiaries at their booths. While some booths appeared not to have personnel, the overall pavilion looked very impressive. The beginning of the event came a week after Mohamed Al Khaja (Mohammed Mahmoud al-Khaja) was sworn in as the new ambassador to Israel. Israel’s head of mission in the UAE, Eitan Na’eh, visited the IDEX pavilion. He also met Ambassador Al-Khaja. See details here. They discussed we bilateral relations and means of strengthening and developing them in all fields in light of the Abrahamic Peace Agreement.
We spoke to many of the Israeli companies who were expected to attend. IAI had locals at their booth and Rafael has a Spanish subsidiary. Aeronautics unveiled its Orbiter 4 drone and Emtan showed off its rifles and firearms. Steadicopter, UVision and other pioneering Israeli defense technology companies were present. Israel defense expert Uzi Rubin spoke via video to a panel. Watergen, which has a deal with Al-Dahra in the UAE, was also at IDEX.
Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and Managing Director of EDGE Group, spoke of the new defense conglomerate’s evolution, current priorities, and future plans during a U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council webinar held on 17 February 2021 as a preview to IDEX and NAVDEX. A video of the webinar can be found here. See the announcement and further details here.
Meanwhile, Israel's cycling team which is called "Start-Up Nation" is competing in the 2020 UAE Tour according to numerous reports. Israeli Consul-General Ilan Sztulman says he’s received an unbelievably warm welcome in Dubai, according to a tweet by journalist Michal Divon.
In Israel a delegation from the United Arab Emirates came to the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. The Peres Center sent a delegation to the UAE last year. “The Emirati delegation requested to visit the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, in order to learn about the Center's work in promoting and advancing both innovation and regional cooperation and to lay the foundations for collaborative work in the near future.The members of the delegation were given a tour of the Center and a comprehensive overview of its work by Efrat Duvdevani, Director General of the Peres Center of Peace and Innovation,” the Center said.
This week Arona Maskil also wrote a piece about Israelis and those in the Gulf understanding each other as they begin to work together.
Other important developments
Gulfood took place this week in Dubai. The event highlighted the importance of Dubai as a regional culinary hub and also innovator in food technology.
Israel hosted an Egyptian delegation, including the energy minister days before the US and Egypt held a high level call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. US support for Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, as well as recognition of the Iranian nuclear threat is important, according to senior Israeli defense officials. Statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz this week highlighted Israel’s concerns.
Covid vaccination rates continue to climb. The UAE has vaccinated 3.4 million people and 50 percent of Israelis have received at least. one dose as the country moves to offer “green passports” to reopen.
Israeli innovations in artificial intelligence, a technology that is of great interest to companies in the Gulf, continued to grow with a deal between IAI and Matrix Defense this week. Israel also said it will purchase two new US KC-46 tankers for its air force and Israel’s Rafael is supplying Germany with its Trophy defense system. Global defence spending continues to rise and reached a new highpoint in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic, according to new figures released by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). This is important because maintain security and stability is a key concern for the Gulf and Israel. On February 18 the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), in the Directorate of Defense R&D (MAFAT) of the Israel Ministry of Defense, and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), have commenced the development of the Arrow-4 system. Arrow-4 will be the next generation of endo-exo-atmospheric interceptors in the Arrow weapon system, which today consists of Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors.
Although not directly related to the Gulf, but wider security issues, we took part in listening to a briefing with US General Christopher G. Cavoli, Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Africa and Major General Andrew M. Rohling, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe-Africa and Commanding General, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa. They discussed US security support for North Africa and states in the Sahel.
Dubai-based artist Chama Mechtaly is bringing together calligraphy from Dubai to Jerusalem through the Biennale in Jerusalem.
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel and The Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies held the fourth virtual meeting of the Hiwar Forum for Intra-Regional Dialogue “Writing the Next Chapter of the Abraham Accords – Challenges and Opportunities” with Mohammed Baharoon, (UAE) Director, Dubai Public Policy Research Center (b'huth).
Crossroads of Civilization Museum founder Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, the founder of the Strategists Center, a think tank focused on the Middle East Geo-political affairs, also appears this week on a show with David Nair to discuss the museum.