While the Palestinians are still eyeing the destruction of Israel with their rocket attacks, street violence against Jews and the mindless and seemingly endless declarations from the team of Hamas/Palestinian Authority about the ruthlessness of Israel’s police to keep order at places holy to all religions, the growth of peace between the Jewish state and neighboring Arab nations keeps rolling on with increasing velocity. Just last week, the United Arab Emirates signed a free trade deal with Israel that hopefully will turn the heads of the world’s nations, those sitting on First Avenue and 42nd St., to come to the realization that they all need the technological, business, scientific and down to earth expertise of Israel for their own benefit. The hopeful words of the U.A.E’s Minister of Trade, Thani al-Zeyoudi, should ring in their ears: “Our agreement will accelerate growth, create jobs and lead to a new era of peace, stability and prosperity across the region,” he tweeted after signing the deal. Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also chimed in that this was the largest free-trade agreement between Israel and any Arab state and the fastest to be signed in Israel’s history. Talks began in November and ended successfully, to the satisfaction of both sides, in April.
This deal had its birth at the creation of the Abraham Accords, initiated by Jared Kushner, who served as a go- between with Israel and its former hostile Arab neighbors, during the Trump presidency. During those four years, and concluding with the Abraham Accords, Israel signed agreements opening up diplomatic relations with the UAE, Sudan Morocco and Bahrain. Amazing achievements at the time and even now. But that was under Trump with his appointed Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman. The bad news is that our new Biden handpicked Ambassador to Israel is Thomas Nides, who is surely not the most Israel-friendly guy you’d want in that position. He startled observers and alarmed Israelis during his first interview after arriving in Israel by stating that he had never visited an Israel settlement, though he had visited the country many times, and when asked if he might now o so, replied, “I absolutely will not!”
This must have cheered Palestinians but not Israelis and those living in modern cities referred to as “settlements,” where half a million Israelis live. Nides is one to watch, with great concern. In addressing an Americans For Peace Now (APN) conference he told the cheering Israel hating crowd, “You have a clear agenda. I think your agenda is where my heart is.” And just what is APN’s agenda? It opposes Jews living in Jerusalem, opposes anti-BDS legislation and opposes Jews defending themselves against Islamic terrorism. And Nides also has the firm, vocal support of J Street and the Israel Policy Forum, all vociferously Israel hating organizations. What does that tell you?
President Biden will be making a visit to Israel and the Middle East at the end of this month. That scares us. He has planned meetings with the Palestinian leadership, as well. Our concern is that the Palestinian Authority under arch terrorist, Mahmoud Abbas, will have his ear and together with snarky Nides by his side, Biden is capable of spouting out words of support for these thugs that would inflame the situation rather than calm it. But Israel carries on with its peacemaking in the area and our hopes are that during the next few years of the Biden administration, Israel remains safe and secure. But it needs our prayers and votes.
