President applauded at Gulf Security Conference in Abu Dhabi after speaking via satellite from his office in Jerusalem
BY SPENCER HO THE TIMES OF ISRAEL
In an unprecedented event, President Shimon Peres spoke from his office in Jerusalem via satellite to 29 foreign ministers from Arabic and Muslim countries at the Gulf Security Conference in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago.
While Peres spoke, none of the attendees left the room and some even applauded his remarks, according to Israel daily Yedioth Ahronoth, which reported Monday that Peres talked about how Israel can be a contributing factor in the Middle East and that there is an opportunity for dialogue between Israel and its neighbors about their common concerns, such as the fight against Islamic extremism and Iran’s nuclear program. Peres also presented his vision of global peace.
“There was a lot of excitement from both sides about [Peres’s address],” said an official who was involved in organizing the event. “Everybody understood that this was something historic: the president of the Jewish state sitting in his office in Jerusalem with an Israeli flag and [the foreign ministers] sitting in the Persian Gulf discussing security, the war on terror and peace.”
Peres, who was chosen by the summit’s organizer, the United Arab Emirates, to open the conference, was interviewed via satellite by UN Under Secretary-General Terje Rød-Larsen. As per the conditions for Peres’s appearance, the president and the foreign ministers only spoke through Larsen, and none of the content was leaked to the press.
Among the countries represented were Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, who was at the Abu Dhabi event, initially noted Peres’s address at the conference in an article two weeks ago.
While Israel and much of the Arab and Muslim world are generally at odds, they have recently found some common ground in their opposition to Iran’s rogue nuclear program and concerns about US-led negotiations to thwart that program.
Categories: Arab World, Asia, Israel, United Arab Emirates
It is good that there is a move for peace. Israel is a reality. Most Arab contries have recognised Israel. There is no need to deny something which exists. A speech or proposal for peace from Israel should be welcome. Mr. Shimon Perez is a great leader.
Any country going for war will be loser. That is the lesson of the world wars. Any country which will opt for peace through justice will live long.
How did the British survive for a long time in India? It was because of their fairplay and justice. That was a secular form of government with rights for all communities in India.
Muslims need to learn a lot from other nations. While practicing their own faith peacefully, Muslims need to learn some lessons of love and peace and admittance of truth (reality).
Unfortunately the ‘cooperation’ between Israel and Saudi Arabia is only in negative ways (destabilization of Syria, preparation for war with Iran). If it was positive than your comments would apply (Ghulam Sarwar).