Former president Reuven Rivlin famously described Israeli society as comprising four “tribes”: the ultra-Orthodox, religious Zionists, secular Jews, and Arabs. In early June, dozens of men and women from all four tribes journeyed together as a single delegation to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During this remarkable visit, we learned much about the UAE, but no less about ourselves, our nation, and our vision for the future of the region.

The delegation brought together representatives from more than twenty organizations in Israel’s interfaith diplomacy field, led by the Jerusalem Interfaith Center and supported by Israel’s Ministry for Regional Cooperation. We traveled to Abu Dhabi to participate in the International Dialogue of Civilizations and Tolerance Conference, hosted by the Emirates Scholar Center. Beyond the conference itself, our broader goal was to strengthen a shared vision in which religious identities become sources of connection rather than conflict in the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on fostering Jewish-Muslim fraternity.

The UAE has become a hub and bastion of the Abraham Accords. Since their signing five years ago, the Accords have endured the devastating tests of war and regional turmoil, demonstrating remarkable resilience.

The central message that resonated throughout our encounters was that the Abraham Accords are not merely about shared economic and security interests, but also about shared values, history, and a common vision for the future. Just as we see with two eyes, there are also two “I’s” in relations between peoples: Interests and Identities. While convergence of interests is essential, whether in economics or security, it is no less  important that identity becomes a force for connection rather than division. The peoples of the Middle East, Muslims, Jews, and Christians, share a story in which each has a part. Religion must move from being a part of the problem to becoming part of the solution.

Our first visit was to the remarkable Crossroads of Civilizations Museum, founded by H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori. The museum offers a rich testimony to Jewish culture and civilization, including the first Holocaust Museum in the Middle East. It stands as a powerful expression of the idea that the Abraham Accords are rooted not only in interests, but also in values and a vision for the future.

Ahmed eloquently observed that “when you make war, you have an enemy; when you make peace, you gain enemies,” reflecting the reality that those who pursue peace often face opposition. I first met Ahmed five years ago at the N7 Conference in Rabat, Morocco,........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)