UAE Hosts Israeli Delegation Amid Gaza War Under the Banner of “Tolerance”
Abu Dhabi promotes civilizational dialogue while deepening normalization with Israel, despite the ongoing war on Gaza.
Watan-The UAE provided a platform for Israelis amid the genocide war on Gaza through a promotional conference that claimed to promote Abu Dhabi’s slogans of “civilizational dialogue and tolerance,” aiming to cover up the state’s authoritarian policies and its alliance and normalization with Israel.
The Hebrew newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported that Abu Dhabi hosted a pro-tolerance conference, bringing together participants from various religions and backgrounds.
According to the newspaper, the event was sponsored by the so-called UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, along with the Emirates Center for Research and Studies.
Interfaith Leaders and Artists Gather in Abu Dhabi
The list of attendees and speakers included notable figures such as Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the leader of the Druze community in Israel; Imam Hassan Chalghoumi, a pro-Israel activist; Rabbi Yakov Nagen, executive director of the Ohr Torah Center for interfaith dialogue; and the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The event, known as the International Conference on Civilizational Dialogue and Tolerance (IDCT), was the second consecutive gathering of its kind held in the Emirati capital.
According to the conference organizers, the goal was to bring together experts from academia, politics, and other sectors to discuss “key issues at the heart of civilizational dialogue.”
The conference also featured a special artistic session by Israeli musician Dudu Tassa and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, alongside musicians from across the Middle East, as part of their tour titled Neighbor and Friend.
Pro-Normalization UAE Voices
The Jerusalem Post reached out to two conference participants—one Emirati and one Israeli—to hear their views on the event.
Amjad Taha, a UAE commentator known for his pro-Israel stance, stated:“In my country, anti-Semitism is not an opinion but a crime.”
Taha, who describes himself as a strategic political analyst and is a vocal advocate of normalization, was among the conference speakers.
In his conversation with the newspaper, he praised the event, calling it “a leading global platform for dialogue, aimed at exploring diverse values and standards, proving that real dialogue is not only possible but essential for crafting innovative solutions to today’s global challenges.”
He added:“In the UAE, an Orthodox Jew can walk freely wearing a kippah without fear, whereas in places like West Midlands in Britain or Western Sydney, they might face harassment or violence. That’s the difference.”
Taha emphasized that the UAE does not consider anti-Semitism or any form of racism as mere opinions but as crimes. He pointed out that the Muslim Brotherhood, which includes its military wing Hamas, is banned in the UAE, whereas in the West, it operates freely, “often under the guise of charitable organizations linked to funding terrorism in the Middle East.”
He praised the UAE’s commitment to what he described as “genuine coexistence,” asserting that the country “views tolerance as a principle, not just a slogan.” He added: “The UAE does not tolerate those who exploit freedom to spread hate and violence, which is why events like this thrive here.”
During the conference, Taha called for a moment of silence to honor the memory of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, who were killed after being captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023.
He stated:“During the Holocaust, some participated, some celebrated, some denied it, and some saved Jewish lives. On October 7, history repeated itself—not only in its horrors but also in the choices people made.”
A UAE-Driven Event
Chen Cooperman, executive director of Blend.Ar, an initiative teaching Arabic and Hebrew to foster Jewish-Arab relations, described the conference as primarily “a UAE-led event.”
He claimed:“This conference was very important for the UAE to reinforce the values it deems essential. The UAE seeks to be a leading hub for tolerance and cultural connection in the Middle East—an important and noble goal.”
Cooperman emphasized the significance of holding such a conference despite ongoing wars and challenges, praising the organizers for continuing the event in 2024, shortly after the October 7 attacks.
