February 17, 2025 — New York, NY
An American Jewish Committee (AJC) leadership delegation concluded a week of meetings and conversations with senior government officials, policy analysts, business leaders, high-ranking military officers, U.S. diplomats, and other interlocutors in the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain. The group's talks continued AJC’s more than three decades of engagement, trust-building, and advocacy across the Middle East, furthered by the recent launch of AJC’s Center for a New Middle East.
AJC's discussions coincided with the Dubai-based World Governments Summit, where the delegation held several high-level meetings with senior officials, including His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the UAE; His Excellency Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE; His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the UAE; and Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
The delegation, led by AJC President Michael Tichnor and AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson, focused its attention on prospects of widening the circle of Arab-Israeli peace, assuring that Abraham Accords signatories reap the full benefits of cooperation, strengthening U.S. strategic and economic ties to the region, and pushing back against Iranian aggression and Tehran’s quest for military nuclear capability.
"One month into a new U.S. administration and weeks into a complex hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas, it was important for AJC to return to the strategically vital and dynamic Gulf to exchange views with longtime contacts and seek ways to create stability and advance cooperation under extremely difficult circumstances," Tichnor said.
Highlights of the six-day program included a reception in Dubai presenting the recently launched AJC Center for a New Middle East, an initiative announced by AJC CEO Ted Deutch to advance Arab-Israeli understanding, peace, and prosperity in a post-October 7 world; a meeting at the World Governments Summit with UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay; and a lecture by Isaacson to diplomats and diplomatic cadets at Bahrain’s Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Academy for Diplomatic Studies.
"For decades, AJC has worked with governments in the Middle East and North Africa – mostly behind the scenes – to break down barriers of misunderstanding between Arabs and Jews and help realize the potential of Israel’s further integration in the region,” said Isaacson, who is also the Director of AJC’s Center for a New Middle East. “While October 7 will forever be a devastating reminder of the power of hatred, we know that the Israel-Hamas war will come to an end, and the region will be faced with a choice between increased cooperation and continued conflict. AJC is committed to helping the region’s policy-makers and opinion-makers choose cooperation.”
While in the UAE, AJC leaders visited Al Ain, the birthplace of the UAE's founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to learn about his vision, leadership, and the rich history of the United Arab Emirates. Members of the delegation included the co-chairs of the AJC Arabian Gulf Institute, Suzi Jaffe and Andy Marks; AJC Interreligious Affairs Chair Amy Ragen; AJC New York Chair Robert Skolnick; and AJC Governors Matt Bergman, Scott Edelman, Anne Meyers, and Iris Mushin.
Coordinating the Gulf mission from Washington was AJC Director of Middle East and North Africa Initiatives Benjamin Rogers, who accompanied the group. The delegation’s program was implemented through the support of AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding, directed by Amb. (ret.) Marc Sievers, who accompanied the mission. AJC Abu Dhabi Deputy Director Reva Gorelick played a key role in program planning, including interface with the UAE Jewish community.
Opened in 2021, AJC Abu Dhabi works to strengthen ties between Israel and Arab nations, build relations among Arabs and Jews, and celebrate and enrich Jewish life across the Middle East. The establishment of a permanent presence in the region follows decades of quiet engagement between AJC and Arab leaders across the Gulf, the Levant, and North Africa.
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
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