Ex-Peres policy adviser: ‘Enormous’ potential in Israel-UAE-Bahrain deal

Israel could possibly mobilize support from the UAE and Bahrain to move forward to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians.

Dr. Nimrod Novik and Dr. Ebtesam al-Ketbi are seen addressing The Jerusalem Post Annual Conference. (photo credit: LIOR LEV)
Dr. Nimrod Novik and Dr. Ebtesam al-Ketbi are seen addressing The Jerusalem Post Annual Conference.
(photo credit: LIOR LEV)
Dr. Nimrod Novik, former senior policy adviser to the late Shimon Peres and member of the board of the Commanders for Israel’s Security group, was speaking at The Jerusalem Post Annual Conference, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CIS is a movement of ex-senior security officials from the IDF, Israel Police, Mossad and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency. Novik said that there is a great deal of potential in the Israel-UAE agreement on numerous levels.
Novik, who was interviewed by Khaled Abu Toameh, Arab affairs correspondent for The Jerusalem Post, said that Israel and the United Arab Emirates are the two leading countries in the region driven by science, technology, and the pursuit of stability.
“We Israelis have a lot to gain from cooperation with our counterparts in the UAE in a variety of fields. Tourism is important, human contact is important, but also in a more profound way, cooperation in science and technology, helping each other’s security objectives – this is all ahead of us.” Additionally, Novik, who is also associated with the American Jewish organization Israel Policy Forum, suggested that Israel should strive to mobilize support from the UAE and Bahrain to move forward to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians.
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Toameh also interviewed Dr. Ebtesam al-Ketbi, president of the Emirates Policy Center, who said that while the UAE sees the agreement as an opportunity to revive the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis, it does not view itself as a mediator. She suggested that the Palestinians need new, young leadership that cares for peace.