Crisis in leadership undermining democracy

A new axis of evil is threatening the free world. Who will stand against them?

August 9, 2024: In a world increasingly divided by political, social, and economic fractures, the need for strong, principled leadership has never been more critical. As global tensions rise and democracies are tested, we find ourselves at a crossroads where the values that underpin our societies are being challenged. The lessons of history, particularly those from moments of great peril, offer us invaluable guidance. One such lesson comes from Winston Churchill, whose leadership during Britain's darkest hour serves as a timeless beacon of hope and resolve.

Winston Churchill, in the face of overwhelming odds, reassured a beleaguered Britain that democracy would prevail. His speeches, marked by unwavering confidence and a refusal to surrender, galvanized a nation teetering on the brink of despair. Churchill’s message was clear: no matter the challenges, the principles of freedom and democracy would endure. His leadership was not just about strategy or policy; it was about instilling a sense of purpose and resilience in the people he led.

Today, as we grapple with global challenges that threaten the very fabric of our democratic institutions, we must look to Churchill's example. Leadership in the modern era requires more than just the ability to navigate crises; it demands a vision that inspires and unites. It calls for leaders who, like Churchill, are unafraid to speak hard truths and who possess the moral courage to stand by their convictions, even when the path forward is uncertain.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the Middle East, where Iran has emerged as a central figure in what can only be described as a modern-day axis of evil. Through its alliances with Russia and China, Iran has solidified its influence, creating a dangerous triad that threatens global stability. Russia and China, both of whom purchase Iranian oil, are indirectly fueling the very terrorism that Iran exports across the region. This unholy alliance not only endangers the Middle East but poses a grave threat to democracies worldwide.

In a troubling sign of the moral decline in the West and its alignment with a modern axis of evil, I recently wrote to the Japanese Ambassador protesting the Mayor of Nagasaki’s decision to disinvite Israel’s Ambassador, Gilad Cohen, from a memorial commemorating the atomic bombing of the city. This decision not only disrespects Israel’s right to self-defense, as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, but also tarnishes the legacy of humanitarian figures like Chiune Sugihara, who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. By excluding Israel’s representative, Japan risks aligning with forces opposed to democracy and justice—a stark reminder that the West must stand together resolutely to defend fellow democracies like Israel against the growing threat of authoritarianism and moral ambiguity.

Among the failures in leadership is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which this week, 10 months following the October 7th attack on Israel, terminated nine employees for their participation in that attack. Israel is rightfully working to outlaw UNRWA as a terror organization, given its widely known enabling of Hamas. UNRWA's leadership, including the broader UN, has repeatedly refused to fully acknowledge the agency's role in turning a blind eye while Hamas stored its weapons in UNRWA facilities and used its headquarters as a base for operations. This failure not only jeopardizes the safety of innocents but also undermines the very principles that the UN is supposed to uphold.

Its shameful to see democratic states undermine another democratic state.  This week, Israel did the right thing this week by ordering the revocation of diplomatic status for 8 Norwegian diplomats.  Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz wrote, "Norway chose to reward Hamas murderers and rapist by recognizing a Palestinian State...and joined the baseless lawsuit against us at the ICC..."

What we are seeing in cities across the West is alarming. Our streets have been overtaken by extremists, yet our politicians are elsewhere. Our universities are setting policies that undermine democracies, but our governments continue to fund them. Even more troubling is the fact that government officials appointed to fight antisemitism and ensure the memory of the Holocaust endures—essential for maintaining our social moral compass—have made little progress in rebuffing the skyrocketing threats against the Jewish community. This stark reality underscores the critical need for leadership that is not only present but actively engaged in defending the very principles that hold our societies together.

Leadership is often thought to apply only to political figures, but in reality, it encompasses corporate leaders, spiritual leaders, and those in law enforcement and education. These individuals often have a greater influence than even a prime minister in ensuring that their communities maintain a strong moral compass. This week, I had the refreshing opportunity to meet with two people who exemplify this broader concept of leadership. One is a corporate leader from a Catholic background who has taken it upon himself to independently learn and investigate the truth about Israel. The other is a member of a provincial parliament who, despite the risks, speaks out fearlessly against extremism on our streets. 

These leaders, through their actions and convictions, contribute to the moral strength of our society, often in ways that resonate far beyond the political sphere.

Thankfully, there are many upstanders among us. This fall, my foundation will be honoring Stephen Harper as a Defender of Israel and recognizing an Israeli-Muslim-Bedouin policeman who saved 300 kids from the Nova Party on October 7th. These individuals embody the spirit of true leadership—acting with courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to protecting others. We must reset our moral compass by exemplifying the heroes among us.

In the face of this growing menace, it is imperative for the West to stand together resolutely. Just as Churchill rallied the free world against the tyranny of his time, today's leaders must unite to confront the dangers posed by this axis of evil. At the heart of this struggle lies Israel, a beacon of democracy in a region plagued by authoritarianism and extremism. Israel's survival is not just a regional issue but a matter of global importance; it represents the front line in the defense of democratic values against the encroachment of tyranny.

The fractures we see today—whether in the form of polarized political discourse, rising authoritarianism, or social unrest—are symptoms of a deeper crisis of leadership. The world is in desperate need of leaders who can transcend divisions and remind us of our shared values. Leaders who, in Churchill's words, can "never give in, never give in, never, never, never" to the forces that seek to undermine our democratic ideals.

In my writings, I often underscore the importance of leadership that is both visionary and grounded in a moral compass based on democratic ideals. I echo Churchill's belief that the preservation of democracy requires vigilance, courage, and an unyielding commitment to truth. As we face the complexities of the 21st century, it is this kind of leadership that we must cultivate and demand.

Churchill's legacy teaches us that leadership is not about avoiding challenges but confronting them head-on with resolve and integrity. In today's fractured world, where Iran's ambitions and its alliances with Russia and China present a clear and present danger, we need leaders who can reassure us that, despite the storms we face, our shared values and democratic principles will prevail. The path forward may be fraught with difficulties, but with the right leadership, we can navigate these turbulent times and emerge stronger, just as Britain did under Churchill's stewardship.

As we reflect on the lessons of history, let us remember that the need for strong leadership is as urgent now as it was during Churchill's time. The future of democracy depends on it, and in the face of an emboldened Iran, the West must stand united to protect Israel and, by extension, the democratic ideals we all hold dear.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/we-are-in-desperate-need-of-churchillian-leaders-to-guide-us-through-these-dark-times?blm_aid=0

August 11, 2023

It’s now obvious that America’s negotiations with Saudi Arabia have nothing to do with Israel and the Palestinians, and everything to do with U.S. national security. The White House is rightfully concerned about China’s encroachment in the region, which includes a plan to build a military base in the United Arab Emirates, and is looking to shore up a longstanding ally that is increasingly making inroads with Beijing. 

The Saudis, for their part, are smartly leveraging the United States to further their own national interests, demanding security guarantees and assistance developing a nuclear power program.

The Biden administration distanced itself from Saudi Arabia following the Jamal Khashoggi assassination.  Since then, the Saudis have raised eyebrows in Washington by cozying up to China.

Last weekend, the Saudis hosted high-level Ukraine peace talks that included a delegation from China. Although U.S. representatives attended the talks, China was seen as the main power broker. According to one news report, “Merely having a Beijing delegation at the summit was a major cause for optimism.”

To make matters even worse for America’s longstanding hegemony in the region, the Saudis and the Iranians recently normalized relations after severing diplomatic ties seven years ago. This, too, was a snub at the Biden administration, which has been unable to resurrect the Iranian nuclear deal.

A deal with Saudi Arabia would allow Washington to ensure Riyadh continues to be an ally in the region, but in order for that to happen the Saudis need to be seen to be advancing the Palestinian cause, at least on paper. The Palestinians have always been used by the Saudis as a Trojan horse to leverage military hardware and other support from the U.S., and this is no exception.

But interest in the Palestinians is waning on all sides. The Palestinian leadership’s corruption have seen them lose support among many Arab leaders. By now, the Palestinians would have had their own state, had they accepted the countless peace deals presented to them since the Oslo Accords.

Nevertheless, America needs Israel’s acquiescence on the Palestinian issue. This may include a freeze on settlement expansion and the construction of an airport, to free up movement on the Palestinian side.

Given the state of affairs in the Palestinian Authority, including disunity between Gaza and Ramallah, and increasing terrorist activity in places like Jenin, none of the parties to this potential agreement — Israel, Saudi Arabia or the U.S. — have all that much interest in seeing the formation of a Palestinian state at the present time. It’s obvious that the Palestinian Authority has lost the confidence of its own population and, more significantly, of the international community.

Israel, on the other hand, despite its political differences, has become a regional superpower. Its recent peace agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain have been a boon to the regional economy. Innovation and trade is blossoming, as the flow of goods and services between these countries continues to increase.

The Saudis, looking ahead into their future, want a piece of the action, and have made their own moves to improve relations with the Jewish state. Last year, for example, Saudi Arabia granted Israel permission to fly over its airspace. The Saudis have also softened their negative, and sometimes antisemitic, rhetoric about Israel.

Israel wants to normalize ties with the Saudis, as well, but probably not at any price. Even with American pressure, the current government is unlikely to compromise on the Palestinian question. In the last six months, terrorist attacks against Israelis have skyrocketed. This has hardened Israel’s position vis-a-vis any rapprochement with the Palestinian Authority.

Sure, the Biden administration would like a diplomatic win in the Middle East. But more importantly, its threatened by China and Russia’s growing dominance in the region.

The Saudis, noticing America’s growing weakness and criticism of its human rights record, have moved away from their long-time partner and friend. But it’s not too late. A renewed deal could be struck with the Saudis and, as a bonus, a peace agreement with Israel would increase regional stability.

In a fractured world, where despot regimes are gaining strength, the time for peace and global stability is now.

National Post

Avi Benlolo is the founder and chairman of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/bidens-potential-saudi-israel-peace-deal-is-really-about-china

Ahead of my meeting with Pope Francis this week at the Vatican, my rabbi reminded me about the importance of interfaith dialogue in the Jewish faith. Every day, Jews around the world turn to Jerusalem and recite the “Oseh Shalom,” the prayer for making peace. We are directed to self-actualize peace — for Israel, for the Jewish people and for the world.

Thus, after a long journey of bridge-building and interfaith dialogue, I arrived at the invitation of the Vatican to attend an audience with Pope Francis. Along with a colleague of mine and the thousands of worshippers who attended the service, we were treated with honour and respect by being placed immediately adjacent to the Pope himself, a sign of the weight the Vatican places on Jewish-Christian dialogue.

Pope Francis doubled down on oseh shalom (making peace) by coming directly to meet us and accept the beautiful menorah I presented to him on behalf of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative. In Judaism, the menorah symbolizes light over darkness, hope over despair. The national symbol of ancient and modern Israel, the menorah is a reminder of the destruction of our Temple in Jerusalem and our triumph over evil throughout the ages.

When I presented the menorah to the Pope, I explained that as we light the menorah each day of Hanukkah, the light becomes more powerful, overtaking darkness; likewise, the more unified we are against antisemitism, hate and intolerance, the stronger our combined impact.

It was not always this way in the Catholic Church. For centuries, the church accused Jews of deicide, murdering Jesus, thus spreading anti-Jewish hatred at a time when most education and knowledge came from, or was regulated by, the church. We were at the mercy of crusades, missionaries, inquisitions and pogroms. Centuries of hatred gave momentum to the eventual murder of six-million Jews in the Holocaust.

Finally, in 1965, under the leadership of Pope Paul VI, the Vatican released a ground-breaking “Declaration on the Relations of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,” or "Nostra aetate." The document calls for “mutual understanding and respect” between Jews and Christians and affirms that "the Jewish people … cannot be held guilty for the death of Christ."

Decades later, Pope John Paul II was the first pope in the history of the Catholic Church who made interfaith dialogue and bridge-building with the Jewish community a priority. He courageously brought to the forefront critical questions about the church’s historic perpetuation of antisemitism.

In a 1998 cover letter for an interfaith document released in memory of the Holocaust, Pope John Paul II wrote, “On numerous occasions during my pontificate I have recalled with a sense of deep sorrow the sufferings of the Jewish people during the Second World War. The crime which has become known as the Shoah remains an indelible stain on the history of the century that is coming to a close.”

The document itself asked “whether the Nazi persecution of the Jews was not made easier by the anti-Jewish prejudices embedded in some Christian minds and hearts. Did anti-Jewish sentiment among Christians make them less sensitive, or even indifferent, to the persecution launched against the Jews by National Socialism when it reached power?”

For his part, Pope Francis travelled to Israel and visited Yad Vashem in 2014. In 2019, he described the persecution of Jews as “neither human or Christian," adding that, "The Jewish people have suffered so much in history, they have been chased away, they too have been persecuted.… The Jews are our brothers and should not be persecuted, understand?”

I was asked by a priest why it was important to meet with the Pope. Christianity is a part of the Abrahamic faith, I explained. As such, it’s our mutual responsibility to carry out God’s will of tikkun olam, to repair of the world. As the forces of hate and evil continue to gain ground, Jewish and Christian people coming together for the first time in history can be a force for good the likes of which has never been seen before. For me, oseh shalom is not only a directive. It’s a commandment.

National Post

Avi Abraham Benlolo is the founder and chairman of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we were all like Wallenberg?

Author of the article:Avi BenloloPublished Jan 23, 2023  

Last week, Canadians paused to celebrate the life and legacy of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, on the anniversary of his detainment and disappearance in 1945. We are fascinated by the story of a young man who risked everything to save thousands of Hungarian Jewish children, women and men from Hitler’s gas chambers.

He was disappeared 78 years ago, but his bravery, kindness and compassion lingers onward, posing the ultimate question: how do we instill these valuable character traits in each and everyone of us? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we were all like Wallenberg?

We know there are global events that are beyond our individual control. Russia’s assault on Ukraine is an example of really bad people misbehaving because of personal ego and a lack of self-control.

Similarly, we see the tyrants in Iran repressing their own people in the name of religious beliefs that keep them in power. Their ideology drives them to develop weapons of mass destruction and sow hate and discord throughout the Middle East. Wallenbergs they are not.

People like Wallenberg are our moral compass when it comes to understanding the difference between good and evil. The macro level is often relatively easy to understand, as the forces between good and evil, darkness and light, continue to battle one another through every generation. But the character traits we need to explore and understand go deeper. They exist on the individual and the person-to-person level.

Wallenberg displayed humanity’s best character traits: kindness and altruism. He was assigned to Budapest as Sweden’s special envoy in 1944 and, while there, issued thousands of fake protective passports to Jewish refugees and sheltered many of them in the 32 buildings he rented and declared as Swedish territory. His action was a personal volition, going above and beyond the call of duty and out of the bounds of his diplomatic charge.

We need to understand the character traits that drive heroic people like Wallenberg to selfless acts of valour. His actions and those of the Swedish legation in Budapest are legendary. He successfully negotiated with the Germans that bearers of protective passes would not have to be identified with the yellow Star of David. He even rallied other diplomats around him, including the Hungarian minister of foreign affairs, to issue 9,000 protective passes.

In one eye witness account that encapsulates the fortitude of this man, his driver, Sandor Ardai, recounted one of the many times Wallenberg intercepted an outbound train filled with Jews heading to Auschwitz:

“He climbed up on the roof of the train and began handing in protective passes through the doors, which were not yet sealed. He ignored orders from the Germans for him to get down, then the Arrow Cross men began shooting and shouting at him to go away. He ignored them and calmly continued handing out passports to the hands that were reaching out for them.…

“After Wallenberg had handed over the last of the passports he ordered all those who had one to leave the train and walk to the caravan of cars parked nearby, all marked in Swedish colours.”

We should all ask ourselves what we would do if we were in the same position. Would we risk our lives to save others?

In a world still fraught with conflict and viciousness, we certainly need more Wallenbergs. Days celebrating Raoul Wallenberg and Martin Luther King Jr. pass us by yearly. Some of us stop, listen and think about what these heroes can teach us.

The truth is, however, that Gandhi had it right when he counselled his people to, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” These are tough words to live by, but we should all strive toward that end every single day.

Sadly, Wallenberg was disappeared in 1945, taken by the Russians and presumed dead. His legacy carries us forward knowing that people like him will rise in times of need and desperation. But the world desperately needs more of them — and fast.

National Post

Published in the National Post

November 18, 2022

The Abraham Accords have been a game-changer for Israel and the United Arab Emirates. While the two countries have cultural and religious differences, their relationship feels completely natural. Even the call to prayer at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport felt completely normal as I boarded an El Al flight to Tel Aviv, alongside Israelis ferrying their shopping bags back home.

I spent a few days in Dubai and it felt completely natural. It wasn't until I saw a flight billboard at the airport listing Tel Aviv beside Tehran, Beirut and Jeddah that the significance of this ground-breaking peace finally hit home.

The ability to fly over between Israel and the U.A.E. over once-forbidden Saudi airspace has created a vibrant ecosystem that has reaped massive economic rewards for both countries. Trade between Israel and the U.A.E. exceeded US$1.2 billion (C$1.59 billion) in 2021, and surpassed US$1.4 billion in the first seven months of this year. A multi-million dollar R&D fund was established jointly by both countries, with the U.A.E. committing a further $100-million investment in venture capital funds in Israel.

Unlike Israel’s relatively cold peace with Egypt and Jordan (which has recently warmed thanks to the Abraham Accords), peace with the U.A.E. is warm and friendly. And unlike Israel's relationship with Jordan, which is based on military protocols, its peace with the U.A.E. is based on people-to-people relationships. Normalization feels utterly natural because both countries are pursuing modernity, technological prowess and an increase in the socioeconomic status of their people.

At my foundation’s joint event with the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum marking two years since the signing of the Abraham Accords, Britain’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, smartly observed that while Jews are suffering in many places, in the U.A.E., the Jewish community is growing and thriving. Israel’s deputy consul general explained that there is virtually no antisemitism in the U.A.E., since the population takes its cues from its leadership.

Indeed, the country's growing Jewish community now enjoys a selection of kosher restaurants and at least three synagogues, including the Palm synagogue, where I was fortunate to spend Shabbat and meet many of the community’s leaders. I met numerous Israeli and even Canadian Jews who moved to the U.A.E. for work and have become an integral part of its growing Jewish community. Hearing people speaking Hebrew is now commonplace in malls and other venues.

Ahmed Obaid Almansoori, a prominent Emirati who founded the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum, has become a cultural icon and champion of normalization. He toured me through his museum’s Holocaust exhibit, which he claims is the only one anywhere in the Middle East outside of Israel. Last year, he helped lead the March of the Living and, this past summer, he revealed a signed letter from Theodor Herzl during celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the First Zionist Congress.

More significantly, Almansoori said that he is educating Emirati students about the Holocaust by bringing them to the museum. He said he began his Holocaust collection below the radar long before the Abraham Accords, and now it’s open to the public as a means of advancing peace, tolerance and Jewish-Arab solidarity.

In my speech at the museum marking Kristallnacht, I remarked that the museum is a perfect place for our joint event because it reflects the Abrahamic values of friendship, pluralism and co-existence. For his part, Almansoori believes that, “We need to stop antisemitism, anti-Zionism and the delegitimization of Israel. People should move forward and try to build bridges.” This is a sentiment that is slowly beginning to take hold throughout the Middle East.

If it succeeds in taking hold, not only will it increase trade, prosperity and peace within the region, it will also undermine the antisemitism and delegitimization campaigns at the United Nations and on university campuses. As I said in my remarks, our job is to realize this exceptional opportunity by being physically present and extending our hands in peace. That’s what we are doing.

National Post

RABAT, Morocco — Morocco welcomed us with open arms this week as part of our effort to build a global consensus in support of freedom, democracy and human rights. In a world quickly regressing into war, chaos and crimes against humanity, as is the case with Russia's bombardment of Ukraine, Morocco is a nation moving in the right direction. While deeply complex and steeped in tradition, its political leaders and civil-society are focused on economic and social development, expanding Morocco's footprint and imagination.

  The dichotomy between the old and the new is startling. Here across my hotel window in Rabat, is a beautiful egg-shaped new Grand Theatre that looks like a futuristic space shuttle. A few miles down from that is a rocket-looking tower building under construction that is believed to be the tallest in Africa. But on the river adjacent to these two iconic buildings are old rickety fishing boats, while across the ways Rabat's centuries old Great Mosque. The calls to prayer echo throughout the day.

  Moroccans believe, given the country's historic Jewish population and heritage, peace and economic development with Israel is natural. The Abraham Accords may have provided an opportunity for both countries to re-engage with one another, but most Moroccan leaders believe they were simply a re-activation of diplomatic relations already in place. Serge Berdugo, president of a prominent Jewish community group and a key ambassador for King Mohammed VI, said that Morocco and Israel have a long-standing relationship and he believes the Abraham Accords were given a boost because of Morocco.

   Morocco is steeped in Jewish Heritage. The Director of Morocco's only Jewish Museum in Casablanca said archeological evidence indicates the Jewish community was here well over 2,000 years ago, likely as a consequence of their expulsion from Jerusalem by the Romans. There were other waves of migration into Morocco including during the 1492 Spanish Inquisition. By the time Israel gained its independence in 1948, this ancient Jewish community numbered some 350,000 and had built a legacy of history enveloped by hundreds of community institutions, foundations, synagogues and schools. Of these, approximately 3,000 Jewish citizens remain still running a complex number of organizations including schools and multiple synagogues.

  Morocco's deep rooted connection to its Jewish heritage is embedded in its constitution says Elmehdi Boudra, president of the Mimouna Foundation and a member of my organization's Global Advisory Board. Given his focus on advancing pluralism and Moroccan-Jewish heritage, Boudra proudly points out a plaque in the Jewish museum that reads in part, "A sovereign Muslim State ... the Kingdom of Morocco shall seek to preserve its diverse, indivisible national identity. Its unity is built on the convergence of its Arab-Islamic Amazigh and Saharan-Hassani components, is nurtured and enriched by African, Andalusian, Hebraic and Mediterranean constituents". 

 Morocco has changed over the last twenty years, say the leaders with whom I met. It's still a country grappling with poverty, illiteracy and a turbulent economy. But as one government official commented to me, "we are not a wealthy country, but we are a country rich in values." As in all other social structures, a grass-roots value system that embraces inclusivity, tolerance and respect is one that advances societies.

   Casablanca's first female mayor, Nabila Rmili, explained to me that she is setting out on implementing policies that advance women in society. One of those areas is pushing for the employment of women so that they can become economically independent and amending the Family Law to release women from traditional patriarchy in the legal system. She wants to see more protection for women, programs against abuse and she wants to help "street children." Mayor Rmili pointed out that Morocco's three largest cities — Casablanca, Marrakech and Rabat all have female mayors who serve as role models for Moroccan girls and women. Her own cabinet consists of 4 women and 5 men who serve under her as Vice Presidents of the City of Casablanca.

  A thirty-something year old elected parliamentarian, Najwa Koukouss shared these sentiments as part of a growing trend in Morocco. She wants to break out from what she refers to as the "poverty of the mind" that has held back Moroccans for generations. She came from a conservative-religious background but has quickly risen through youth movements and now politics as a leading advocate focusing on changing social, educational, legal and human rights areas with a focus on advancing her country and her people.

  Child marriage has been a concern of her's and Koukouss helped change the law to make it illegal to marry anyone below the age of 18 years old. Canada's Ambassador Nell Stewart agreed with this sentiment noting however that while in major cities this is controllable, the opposite often happens in smaller towns. In fact, she notes, judges often find loopholes which force underage girls into marriage. The advancement of gender equity is important under her watch here in Morocco and Mauritania where among many projects, she oversees the disbursement of some $30 million a year to support and advance women's rights.  All of this is coupled with a strong desire to further the peace agreement with Israel and capture economic prosperity that can lead to life-improvement for all people.

  Given the travesty that is now taking place against Ukraine, we now know just how fragile our global order is. The Abraham Accords present this region with an unsurpassed opportunity: together we can build more than peace and prosperity. We can build an "Abrahamic Tent" of shared beliefs and values that will unify us all against hate and evil. Morocco is a nation that is moving in the right direction and moving fast.   

April 1, 2022 National Post.  Avi Abraham Benlolo is the Founder and Chairman of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

Tyrants rise (and fall) in every generation. They enslave, oppress and subjugate. They attack freedom and seek supreme control to satisfy an insatiable ego-driven need toward greatness. They are irrational megalomaniac’s who in an age of nuclear weapons can end humanity.  

As Putin’s forces attack Kyiv, the Ukrainian people fight valiantly to defend their homeland — alone. But this is not only an assault on Ukraine. This is an assault on democracy itself. For the first time in 80 years, democratic nations are on trial. Will they act beyond sanctions to defend freedom and save humanity?  In his State of the Union Address this week U.S. 

President Joe Biden made it clear that Ukraine will stand alone in this fight, despite punishing sanctions on Russia. “(Vladimir) Putin sought to shake the very foundations of a free world, thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated. He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world will roll over. Instead, he met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined — he met Ukrainian people.”  In other words, the Ukrainian people will have to defend freedom and democracy by themselves. If that was not clear enough, Biden doubled down: “Our forces are not engaged and will not engage with the conflict of Russian forces in Ukraine. Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine.” No one wants another world war. The climate is dangerous. 

But leaving Ukraine to fight for itself is irresponsible too.  If you listened carefully to Biden’s words, he essentially said that Russia could have Ukraine in exchange for peace with NATO allied countries. The echoes of the Munich Agreement of 1938 are in full display. In response to Germany’s undeclared war on Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), the United States along with the United Kingdom, France and Italy foolishly appeased Nazi Germany by allowing the annexation of Czech borderland territories in exchange for peace.  Adolph Hitler must have laughed at the West’s naivete as he announced this was his last territorial claim in Europe. Right. We all know what happens when you fail to stand up to a bully. Soon after, France itself was occupied by the Nazis while Italy’s Mussolini aligned with the Nazis.  

Kyiv, in other words, is Masada. In 73 C.E. a Jewish tribe fled the Romans to make a last stand on an ancient mountain fortress in the Judean Dessert, adjacent to the Dead Sea. Like the Ukrainians, they were defending their freedom and way of life. The tribe resisted and fought for months, as the Romans encircled and laid siege to the mountain fortress. No one came to their rescue. In the end, the Jewish tribe committed mass suicide as its final act of freedom, rather than be taken prisoner.  No one expects the same fate to befall the brave Ukrainians who are relentlessly defending themselves against Putin’s Tyranny. 

But in the eyes of the world, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s soldiers are on Masada — defending not only their own people, but western civilization itself. Even while 134 countries condemned Russia at the United Nations this week, Ukraine stands on its own. Like the Israelites who defended their mountaintop centuries ago, they can only hold-out for so-long against a superior force.  And there are harsher lessons to be learned as the world watches with unease. If Ukraine must stand alone against tyrants, will the U.S. come to Israel’s defence should Iran attack? Clearly, given America’s acquiescence to nearly every Iranian demand during the Vienna nuclear talks, Israel’s interests are not necessarily in the Biden administration’s best interest. After the Afghanistan debacle and now Ukraine, America is looking more and more like a paper tiger.  

In the wake of Russia’s ruthless assault, China eyes Taiwan, North Korea eyes South Korea and Iran eyes Israel. A new world order defined by autocracies endangers our freedom. Empires rise and fall because people take their freedom for granted. Our testimony and memory to the past — to never forget the atrocities — is in itself erased and rewritten.  Tyrants eventually fall. Evil fails. Justice prevails. 

Putin could soon be gone. But not until he once again strikes fear so that this generation will remember just how fragile we are. Every generation will learn and re-learn a variation of the story of Masada. The place and century might change. But the story remains the same. Maybe this time, we can figure out a way to break the cycle. We need to stand with Ukraine. Stand on the side of freedom and democracy.

This week, the European Union announced a new strategy to combat anti-Semitism and foster Jewish life. It was welcome news, especially in light of the anti-Semitic graffiti that was found on the site of the former Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.

At the launch of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI), an organization I helped found, in New York this week, I took a moment to commend United Nations ambassadors Alexander Marschik of Austria and Michal Mlynar of the Slovak Republic, on their countries' work in advancing an international pledge against anti-Semitism at the International Human Rights Council (IHRC) in Geneva. Over 48 countries signed onto that resolution at the notoriously anti-Israel organization.

In the fight against anti-Semitism, what the world requires is a comprehensive engagement policy that brings together partnerships through open and oftentimes frank dialogue. At AGPI’s meeting with Ilze Brands Kehris, the assistant secretary general of the United Nations Human Rights Office, we began a conversation about the biased framework at the UN, particularly at the IHRC — where Israel is the only country listed on its permanent agenda.

Alongside the EU strategy to combat anti-Semitism, our approach is to work with UN stakeholders and leaders to root out systemic bias in international bodies. If we are going to stay true to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, its principles must be applied in a fair and balanced way. In this regard, Canada can be a social influencer and a trusted voice of reason in the world.

Upon receiving AGPI’s award for human rights this week, Bob Rae, the permanent representative of Canada to the UN, said to the numerous ambassadors, representatives and Canadians gathered at Canada’s mission that, “This is a time to rededicate ourselves to the cause of peace and to the cause of human rights, which is the cause of the United Nations. To be successful at the United Nations, you need to know how to listen, how to engage with other people and to be open to learning. We look forward to following the progress of AGPI as it grows and extends its mission, which is one that is exceptionally important to the world.”

We can apply Canada’s values system as a framework to combat the biases that permeate the UN and many parts of the world. Echoing the opening remarks of AGPI’s vice-president and prominent criminal defence lawyer Liora Shemesh, “Canada is seen in the world as a beacon of diplomacy that promotes human rights, tolerance and the respect of all religions and cultures. Thus, it is incredibly fitting for our organization to share our country’s prime values of freedom and security with the rest of the world.”

Austria’s charismatic UN ambassador, Alexander Marschik, shared this sentiment, acknowledging that his country is trying to learn from the Canadian model of multiculturalism, as it changes demographically. Speaking directly about his country’s historical wrongs, particularly during the Holocaust, Ambassador Marschik acknowledged that Austria is on journey of learning and reconciliation. Austria’s increasing support for the State of Israel in recent years, including its posting of Israel’s flag on its Parliament building during the war in Gaza, is a sign that it is working to come to terms with its collaboration with Nazi Germany.

Over my 30-year career battling anti-Semitism, confronting hate and discrimination, and educating people about Israel and the importance of Holocaust remembrance, I have realized that we cannot function on our own in accomplishing these lofty goals. The Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan shows us that peace is possible and collaboration is critical in this effort.

Omar Hilale, Morocco’s ambassador to the UN, eloquently pointed out that the Jewish people who have been living in Morocco for centuries are intertwined with the Arabs and Berbers through their common history. “I see this initiative is looking to the future, a future that we want and need to leave for our children, a future of peace. Peace does not just mean the absence of war. It also means coexisting with each other,” he said.

The fight against anti-Semitism is being understood by leading advocates as the fight for the preservation of human rights. After all, the United Nations and its Universal Declaration of Human Rights arose from the ashes of the Holocaust, a horrific genocide that manifested from anti-Semitism.

As Canadians, we can become the moral compass of the world to ensure the int

ernational community never forgets that human rights also applies to rooting out anti-Semitism. As Canadian Muslim leader Raheel Raza eloquently pointed out in quoting Hans Kung, there can be "no peace between nations till there is peace among religions; no peace among religions till there is dialogue among religions.”

October 8, 2021

It's true that democracy dies in darkness. When we stop intellectual pursuits through ideological or political boycotts, we diminish the very essence of freedom. Tyrannical regimes are notorious for engaging in this sort of censorship. 

The Nazis burned Jewish books. The Soviet Union controlled the media. China controls what its citizens can access on the internet. In the same respect, the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel is attempting to limit the capacity of Jewish people living in Israel to engage in culture and information, thus hindering intellectual freedom and diminishing democracy.

Novelist Sally Rooney made headlines this week when she announced that she would not sell the rights to her newest book to an Israeli publishing house, which wanted to translate it into Hebrew. Her stance is apparently tied to her support for the BDS movement: Rooney says she is willing to have her book translated into Hebrew, so long as it's not published by an Israeli company.

The downside of limiting free expression and the interchange of ideas is that it weakens freedom and democracy.  The Berlin Wall came down and Perestroika reformed the Soviet Union because information flowed. The BDS movement, does the very opposite of what social change demands. Its false premise that Israel is an apartheid state is a perversion of truth and reality, given that Most Arab-Israelis prefer to live in Israel because unlike its neighbours, it is free and democratic.

All nations struggle with racism, as well as some degree of ethnic and cultural strife. Israel is no exception. But relentlessly focusing on the Jewish state, while giving a free pass to other countries that have far less respect for human rights and the rule of law than Israel is a double standard that seems to be saved only for the Jews.

For example, an official with the United Nations told me last week that in Lebanon, Palestinians are segregated under the law and barred from certain professions. Yet this actual example of apartheid being practised in a Middle Eastern country is never mentioned by proponents of BDS.

Sure, we can remind boycotters that the Nazis had restrictions on engaging in commerce with Jews and Jewish-owned businesses. Yes, we can argue that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of anti-Semitism makes it clear that singling out the Jewish state for criticism, while giving others a free pass, is a form of racism.

We can even note that the boycotters themselves have faced economic consequences from their decisions — just ask Ben & Jerry's about the economic backlash it faced when it decided to stop selling its products in the West Bank. At the end of the day, however, Israel and the Jewish people will survive without certain books. We are an ancient people who have survived the test of time with the five books of Moses, thank you very much.

The question for everyone who believes in freedom and open society is: can democracy survive under this cloud of intellectual boycott? After all, we know these campaigns never end with the Jews. So where will it end? Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once observed that, "If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence."

There is only one way to bring about substantive change, and that's through the pursuit of open markets, free discourse and increased cultural and scientific exchange. Those who try to limit these pursuits do a disservice to humanity.

National Post - October 14, 2021

New York City - 10/07/21: The Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI) presented Canada’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Bob Rae, with its First Annual Human Rights Award in a ceremony hosted at the Canadian Mission to the UN. The award was presented in conjunction with AGPI’s Global Launch in New York City alongside many Permanent Representatives to the UN and other dignitaries. 

As a new global human rights organization dedicated to advancing human rights, peace, and democracy and combating racism and intolerance, AGPI presented the award in recognition of Ambassador Rae’s exceptional championship of human rights throughout his career. In attendance were representatives from the US, Israel, UAE, Morocco, and Bahrain Missions to the United Nations, among others.

“Our organization aspires to carry Canada’s message to the world, becoming a moral compass for pluralism, justice and human rights for all.  At the recent UN General Assembly, it was clear from testimony given by world leaders that the world around us is in greater turmoil more than ever.  Over the course of the next number of years, our objective will be to bring the world together under one tent” said Avi Abraham Benlolo, AGPI’s Founder and Chairman.  “From this perspective, we are proud to give strength to the Abraham Accords and motivate peace in the Middle East between Israel and its neighbours” Benlolo added. 

In her opening remarks on behalf of the organization, prominent Canadian criminal defense lawyer, Leora Shemesh who serves as AGPI’s Vice President said, “it is simply the perfect place to launch this progressive, and exciting new organization – shared and celebrated in a room of talented persons who have been driven to ensure a better future for our children and future generations. Canada is seen in the world as a beacon of diplomacy that promotes human rights, tolerance and the respect of all religions and culture. Thus, it is incredibly fitting for our organization to share our country’s prime values of freedom and security with the rest of the world”. 

“It is our honour and pleasure to bestow upon Ambassador Bob Rae our highest honour for his work in advancing human rights” said Paul Godfrey, AGPI’s Honourary Chairman and the Chairman of one of Canada’s leading newspapers, the National Post. “Ambassador Rae served as Premier of Ontario and Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.  His career spans a wide range of areas including recently as Special Envoy to Myanmar, as Special Envoy on Humanitarian and Refugee Issues leading to his report “A Global Pandemic Requires a Global Response”.

“I’m honored to have received this award,” said Ambassador Bob Rae, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. “This is a time to rededicate ourselves to the cause of peace and to the cause of human rights, which is the cause of the United Nations. To be successful at the United Nations, you need to know how to listen, how to engage with other people, and to be open to learning. We look forward to following the progress of AGPI as it grows and extends its mission, which is one that is exceptionally important for the world.”

Raheel Raza, a noted Canadian journalist, author, anti-racism activist and public speaker who is known for interfaith work and for her support of the State of Israel, eloquently said "The AGPI reflects the philosophy of Hans Kung when he said "No peace between Nations till there is peace among religions: no peace among religions till there is dialogue among religions. AGPI is a portal for global dialogue and peace and I am honoured to be part of it”.   

“The Abraham Global Peace Initiative stands for the shared values of Israel and Canada in the pursuit of democracy and human rights,” said Ambassador Noa Furman, Deputy Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations. “We applaud its efforts to defend religious freedom and fight antisemitism. We have an obligation to come together and speak out in one voice to combat hate and intolerance.”

“AGPI is a great initiative,” said Ambassador Mitch Fifield, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations. “It is important to pause and take a moment to reflect when something unequivocally good such as this initiative is launched. It is important to defend human rights, to recognize that human rights are the underpinning of prosperity, and to never take for granted and always defend political freedom, economic freedom, religious freedom, the rule of law, and racial and gender equality. That is something that we, in Australia, stand hand in hand with Canada on.”

 “The Jewish people have been living in Morocco for centuries, and our history is a common history- Arabs, Berbers, and Jews,” said Ambassador Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations. “I would like to join my voice with my colleagues in congratulating Ambassador Rae for this deserved award. I witness in Ambassador Rae a man of peace, dialogue, and a man who is always engaged in the cause of the United Nations. I want to congratulate the initiators of the Abraham Accords and the Abraham Global Peace Initiative. I see this initiative is looking to the future, a future that we want and need to leave for our children, a future of peace. Peace doesn’t just mean the absence of war, it means coexisting with each other.”

 “Congratulations to the Abraham Global Peace Initiative,” said Ambassador Michal Mlynár. “We are proud to be associated with this organization for a good number of reasons. The United Nations is a peace initiative first and foremost. For a smaller country like Slovakia, human rights and international law are categories that we do not take for granted, and they are the bedrock of our everyday work. We must spare no effort to invest in the next generation, in peace, in intercultural dialogue, and interreligious dialogue.”

 “Austria always supports civil society with great readiness, in particular organizations such as AGPI which are dedicated to human rights, to tolerance and to peace, and it is an honor and a pleasure to support that,” said Ambassador Alexander Marschik, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations. “I’m also proud to be here because Austria has, in the past decades, become a very diverse and multicultural country, and we look to Canada as a model as to how we can become a more vibrant, peaceful, and tolerant society.”

“I’m happy to be present at the launch of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative,” said Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations. “Italy is a country committed to peace, dialogue, and tolerance, and a good friend to Israel and the peace process. The United Nations is the best place where we can be proactive and advocate for basic universal rights: respect for the human community, freedom of expression, freedom of faith, human dignity, and tolerance. The basic common values of respect and tolerance are those through which we can find understanding if each of us engage with conviction.”

As part of AGPI’s global launch, the organization’s leadership spent the day in New York City meeting with Permanent Missions to the UN and officials from UN bodies including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Attending today’s press conference were the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of Australia, Austria, Italy, Morocco, Nigeria, Panama, and Slovakia, the Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, as well as diplomatic representatives from Israel, UAE, and Bahrain.

The Abraham Global Peace Initiative is a Canada-based global non-profit with the mission and mandate to assist, encourage and promote, whether on its own or in conjunction with others, the advancement of human knowledge and understanding through the study of and research into international human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, global peace and civil society in Canada, Israel and around the world. AGPI pursues this mission by promoting Holocaust education and combatting Holocaust denial, identifying and opposing anti-Semitism in Canada and globally, pursuing peace through normalization between Middle Eastern countries, and advocating for international engagement on these issues. Currently, AGPI develops and administers tolerance training programs centered around Holocaust education, anti-Semitism, and the evolution of human rights and freedoms in Canada, as well as teaching materials to help educators spread AGPI’s message around the world. AGPI also hosts speaking events, a World Human Rights Day that brings together schools around the world to discuss human rights, and advocates for its mission in the halls of power around the world. 

The Abraham Peace Accords are perhaps the world’s most significant peace-making milestone in recent decades, yet the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas have worked diligently to undermine them.

Rather than come to terms with the fact that Israel’s right to exist has been accepted by a number of Arab states, the Palestinians have continued to promote anti-normalization initiatives, which must be firmly rejected by countries like Canada and the United States.

This week’s celebrations of the one-year anniversary of the signing of the accords on the White House lawn could have included overtures to the Palestinians, had they not flatly rejected American offers for normalization. Instead, the massive trade agreements and economic benefits that accrue from them have left the Palestinians behind.

It’s the same old story. In recent decades, Palestinian leaders have done everything to keep their people desperate and underdeveloped by turning down numerous peace agreements. But their biggest mistake in recent years was the vicious rejection of the Abraham Peace Accords and the vigorous anti-normalization campaign against the Jewish state.

The PA continues to press on with false allegations of war crimes against Israel at the International Criminal Court and has been using the United Nations’ natural bias against Israel and the massive Arab voting block to undermine the Jewish state.

While a handful of mainly democratic countries (including Canada, the U.S., France, Germany and the United Kingdom) have rejected next week’s Durban IV conference at the UN because of its vehement anti-Semitism, the PA is rallying for it.

In a statement released by its foreign ministry this week, the Palestinian Authority said that it “strongly objects to inimical statements and tendentious attacks against the upcoming Durban Conference … such iniquitous calls to boycott the conference display an alarming level of deficit in morality.”

In reality, it is the PA and Hamas that suffer from a morality deficit. For nearly two decades, the Durban conferences have been used as forums to demonize and delegitimize Israel — setting off a tsunami of anti-Semitism that reverberates to this very day.

And the Palestinians continue to take a series of actions against Israel intended to undermine the peace accords and block any advancement of a two-state solution, including: launching rockets into Israel from Gaza (including this week), threatening children at school and farmers tending their crops; enthusiastically embracing the escape of six prisoners who broke out of an Israeli jail (four have since been caught); and regularly perpetrating terrorist stabbing attacks against Israelis, as happened this week just outside of Jerusalem’s bus terminal.

It’s time for the international community, including Canada, to hold the Palestinian Authority to account. The Abraham Peace Accords provides the international community with a comprehensive peace plan for the Middle East, but any such plan must include the Palestinians.

In my conversation with Rabbi Ellie Abadie, senior rabbi of the Jewish Council of Emirates and president of the Gulf Jewish Communities, his optimism about the future of Jewish-Arab relations in the region was infectious. With a front-row seat to the success of the Abraham Accords, he believes Saudi Arabia, Oman and perhaps even Qatar may soon embrace peace with Israel. “Its not a matter of if, but a matter of when,” he said.

The so-called “occupation” of the Palestinian territories remains because the PA and Hamas utilize it as an opportunity to undermine Israel at home and on the world stage. The Palestinian question is solvable and the Abraham Accords opens the possibility to bring a coalition of Arab states together to find an equitable solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Its time for allied Western nations to embrace this position and embed it into their own foreign policy. The sooner this happens, the sooner peace will come to the Middle East.

Many of us who lived through 9/11 suffered through a sort-of post-traumatic stress disorder. The terror attack changed our lives forever, twenty years on as we mark its anniversary.
In the days and years following the horrific attack, whom among us felt at ease to fly, let alone see and hear a plane overhead? The nearest exit had to be a heartbeat away and skyscrapers were off limits for weeks and months following the event,

Images of 9/11 still haunt us. People leapt from the twin towers out of desperation. The buildings collapsing consecutively like sand castles. The dust on the faces of survivors as they ran for their lives from ground zero. The silence in the aftermath. No planes in the sky above.

Our sense of public trust and security was shattered. Airports became fortresses, cameras were installed everywhere. It was becoming clearer by the day that the West was no longer safe. That this was an attack on freedom and democracy — our very way of life. An unprecedented number of terror attacks in Europe and even sleepy Canada followed 9/11. This justifiably launched the war on terror.

For families of the 2,977 murdered on that day — the pain is unimaginable. It was the biggest single-day atrocity on North American soil. But have governments forgotten the pain and suffering? Are they letting their guard down once more?

The three words "war on terror" are rarely used anymore by government officials. Still we are not safe. America and its allies, including Canada, bought us twenty years of relative tranquility by going in the offensive against the Taliban, al-Qaida and ISIL. Our war on terror kept them on the run and with little hope of organizing substantial attacks against the west.

Part of the west's amnesia includes the Afghanistan departure debacle. Leaving the nest of terror will prove to be a big mistake. The new Afghan Interior Minister is on the FBI's Most Wanted List, with the U.S. having offered $10 million for information leading to his arrest since 2012. The Taliban will want its revenge. It will give refuge to new and old terror groups and consolidate its power base. America lost its foothold — its airports and bases in the country — and its ability to have boots on the ground and in the region.

If 9/11 was a nightmare in our time, its hard to fathom what our children may have to contend with in the coming decades. Pakistan, a nuclear regional power, may become further destabilized by the Taliban. By then, G-d forbid Iran may have a nuclear weapon as well.

We were never supposed to forget nor let our guard down by pulling out of Afghanistan. Nation building can take generations and while imperfect, changes were happening on the ground — particularly through the education and empowerment of women. America's abandonment of Afghanistan, despite having a relatively small military presence (in comparison to South Korea for instance where it has been present since the 1950s) is a tragic mistake for the cause of human rights and to the memory of 9/11. Freedom and democracy is now less secure.

There is no time limit on preserving our freedom and our way of life. This 20th anniversary memorial to the victims of 9/11 will come and go. We will keep taking our freedom for granted — ignoring the signs — until one day its too late. 9/11 must be a catalyst for action not for memory. We must let our fear drive us to renewed action.

People are doubling down on their optimism and moving the needle to advance humanity 

This year will be a revolutionary year. It’s not because of the shocking assault on the American Capitol this week. We are at the precipice of a new world order bound by human enthusiasm for social change, as creators, innovators and social activists work to break down barriers and build bridges of understanding between peoples.

Our world is basically good. That goodness shone in 2020 like never before as scientists raced to develop a coronavirus vaccine faster than anyone ever thought possible, health-care providers valiantly cared for the ill at their own peril and ordinary people took action in their communities to extend a loving hand. That momentum is spiralling into other areas, including peacemaking.

This week, the Gulf states signed a detente deal with Qatar, re-establishing ties and opening borders in the region. The push for peace is now spreading all over the Middle East. For the first time in history, delegations of leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco are pouring into Israel — shattering old hatreds and building new relationships between governments.

But it’s the individual level that matters most, and we have also witnessed ordinary people rising to the challenge and taking risks to usher in social change, even at a personal cost. For instance, Tunisian singer Noomane Chaari and Israeli Ziv Yehezkel recorded a wonderful piece meant to break down barriers, called “Peace Between Neighbours.”

Like others, Chaari came under fire for promoting peaceful coexistence with Israel. Naysayers and traditionalists who sow hate and fear will always exist. We see them everywhere. But in 2021, Martin Luther King Jr.’s words resonate more than ever: “The ultimate measure of a man (or a woman!) is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

We know from history that the people who are able to make a difference in turbulent times are those who are willing to courageously sacrifice and defiantly show kindness and compassion. They refuse to be silenced into submission, or to go along to get along. It’s this attitude, in fact, that has brought the Middle East to a more peaceful place.

Our ethical code is firmly embedded in our shared human veneration of people we have defined as champions of humanity. They are the people who have broken down barriers, stood resolutely by their ideals and refused compromise. They are the Rosa Parks, Oskar Schindlers, Helen Kellers and Mahatma Gandhis, who taught us to challenge prejudices (including our own) and rise above our primal instincts.

That’s why 2021 is going to be different. People are doubling down on their optimism and moving the needle to advance humanity. My friend David Onley, the former lieutenant governor of Ontario who has championed accessibility his entire life, told me that his chosen words for 2021 are “wisdom, courage and determination.” Optimists are natural builders, creators and visionaries. They see human potential, rise above hate and despair, and foster friendship despite the danger.

If there is a lesson from 2020, it’s that in tragedy, humanity can also find opportunity. By speaking out about peace and a better world, cultural warriors are bringing MLK’s words to life.

Individuals like Jerusalem’s deputy mayor, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, who is shattering ancient myths and tribalism by criss-crossing the Middle East as the co-founder of the UAE-Israel Business Council. Or Houda Nonoo, a former Bahraini ambassador to the United States and Canada, and Ahedya Al-Sayed, the first female president of the Bahraini Journalist Association. They are engaging with people from around the world and defying traditional barriers.

The year 2020 will be remembered as a time of plague, as well as heightened social strife and political polarization, but it also saw historic peacemaking in the Middle East. Along with the vaccines that will hopefully bring an end to the pandemic, this year will also see a growing acceptance of our fellow men and women due to mass social activism.

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability,” said MLK, “but comes through continuous struggle.” It’s time to take that struggle to the next level. Let’s pray the next level means a greater focus on peace, prosperity and the advancement of pluralism around the world. We need humanity to come together now more than ever. That’s my message of hope in this new year.

A political earthquake is underway in the Middle East, as, all of a sudden, Arab nations seem to be falling head over heels for Israel.

A mere 29 days after the United Arab Emirates made a surprise peace announcement with Israel at the behest of the United States, the Kingdom of Bahrain admirably joined the peace parade. Like the U.A.E., Bahrain agreed to establish full diplomatic ties with the Jewish state. It becomes the fourth country (including Egypt and Jordan) to make peace with Israel.  The timing is impeccable, as Bahrain will joined the U.A.E. on the White House lawn for a historic signing of the peace accord.

Everyone is celebrating these achievements except the Palestinian Authority, which was quick to condemn the peace deal and withdraw its ambassador, as it did when the U.A.E. announced its agreement. Naturally, Hamas and Islamic Jihad also had strong words for Bahrain. But the wind of change is picking up speed. Speculation persists that Oman, Saudi Arabia or Morocco could be next. It’s no coincidence that the Arab League rejected the Palestinian call to condemn the U.A.E’s embrace of Israel.

Before now, making peace with the Jewish state was always contingent on a peace agreement with the Palestinians. But everyone has lost count of precisely how many times the Palestinians either rejected statehood or missed an opportunity to make peace.

Soon after the Oslo Accords, then-PLO leader Yassir Arafat turned his focus away from peace and toward suicide attacks against the Jewish state. Other peace initiatives were later rejected by the Palestinians, including generous offers by Israeli prime ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert. Even former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” was rejected.

Is it any wonder that many Arab countries, which are desperate to modernize and gain international acceptance, would not want to continue waiting for the Palestinians to make peace before entering into economically advantageous trade and diplomatic agreements with Israel?  

Nothing ever seems to be good enough for the Palestinians, but the world has been changing all around them. Arab delegations have been secretly coming to Israel and vice versa over the last three years. The Arab media has softened its hostility toward the Jewish state. Scholars and clergy have called for greater tolerance and acceptance. Business leaders have quietly reached out to one another, even negotiating deals.

So much has changed and the time is ripe for peacemaking. Middle East rulers are more interested in prosperity, in science and innovation, than in Hamas’ rockets and suicide belts. They are weary of the Iranian threat, the spread of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic State, and the Syria-style anarchy that can spread with public discontent.

A peace agreement not only provides access to Israel’s high-tech and medical-sciences sectors, it is also a gateway to U.S. and European markets. It creates more educational opportunities and prosperity in the region. And it provides more access to advanced weapons like the F-35 that can offset emerging threats. The Palestinian Authority, unfortunately, refuse to realize that a comprehensive peace agreement will help bring security and sustainability for its people and legitimize its quest for statehood.

More significantly, an Israel buoyed by peaceful relations with its Arab neighbours will soften its posture. This has already happened with respect to the U.A.E.’s demand that Israel back down from its plan to annex some parts of the West Bank. With this in mind, it’s time for the Palestinians to embrace the potential that peace can offer them, as well as the leverage that the U.A.E. and Bahrain can bring to the table.

It’s only a matter of time before the next Arab country joins the march toward peace in the Middle East. The clock is ticking. Let’s make peace.

With U.S. President Joe Biden already reversing course on some of his predecessor’s Mideast policies, there’s every possibility that it will end in disaster.

Former president Donald Trump, for all his imperfections, reduced conflict, held Iran at bay and forged a historic peace between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan and Bahrain. No other American president has ever been able to make as many peaceful gains in a single term in office.  Yet instead of recognizing that this is one area in which Trump made some historic gains, Biden has begun wavering on his Mideast policy. 

He had already being criticized for not having called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Although White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said she expected Biden to call Netanyahu it simply was not good enough, given that Israel is America’s staunchest ally in the region.

It almost feels like the stunt former president Barack Obama pulled when he gave his 2009 speech at Cairo University, leaving out a possible quick stop in Israel. In order to continue down the path toward peace in the Middle East, Biden must learn from the Obama-era foreign policy mistakes, and recognize where the Trump administration achieved success.

The following roadmap could ultimately revolutionize the landscape in the Middle East. The first step would be to invite Prime Minister Netanyahu and senior Israeli political and military leaders to the White House. Israel still has a bad taste in its mouth from the Obama administration’s duplicity. 

Signalling that America has Israel’s back no matter what is first and foremost imperative for the Biden administration to be successful in the region. Israel’s enemies have already begun to salivate at the prospect that Biden appears to be distancing himself from the Jewish state.  

Second, the Biden administration must continue to hold the Palestinian Authority (PA) accountable for its bad behaviour. This week, the PA announced it would be planting 35,000 trees to honour the “martyrs of the Palestinian cause.” Continued veneration of terrorism is unacceptable and must not be rewarded by promises of reinstating aid and re-opening the PA’s office in Washington, as the Biden administration has done. All this will do is embolden the Palestinians to incite terror. It will not make them more likely to sit down at the negotiating table.

Third, Biden should not let Israel’s development of the so-called “settlements,” or disputed territories, sour the relationship between the two countries. Instead of criticizing Israel, the Biden administration should focus on quickening the pace of a peace agreement, in order to help settle the territorial disputes.

Fourth, the Biden administration must continue to focus on the Abraham Accords by strengthening the relationship between the existing signatories and expanding the accords to other Muslim nations (especially Saudi Arabia). The Abraham Accords were a home run for American foreign policy, yet because so much of the media was hostile toward Trump, many Americans failed to notice the revolution that has been underway in the Middle East. Biden has a real opportunity to make further gains in this regard.

Fifth, the rising tide of anti-Semitism from white supremacists, radical Islamists and far left-wing groups must be confronted by the Biden administration head-on. To do so, it must strengthen and embolden the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. This will mean having more international and Middle East partners sign the declaration against anti-Semitism and, most importantly, relentlessly confronting anti-Semites, wherever they might be.  

Sixth, Biden should be cautious about re-engaging with United Nations agencies. The Trump administration stopped aid payments to UNWRA for good reason. The Biden administration should not reinstate funding until it investigates recent reports of anti-Semitism in its school textbooks. Similarly, re-engaging with the UN Human Rights Council, which is known for its disproportionate condemnation of Israel, is a mistake, unless the council is willing to undertake fundamental structural changes.

Most significantly, the Biden administration must continue being Israel’s protector at the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. To his credit, the new U.S. ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has already indicated that she “looks forward to standing with Israel, standing against the unfair targeting of Israel, the relentless resolutions proposed against Israel unfairly.” This is the right way to approach relations with the UN.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for America’s Middle East partners, an alignment on containing Iran’s nuclear ambition is essential. As in the case of the Palestinians, the Biden administration has begun making strategic mistakes by signalling to Iran that America is willing to compromise. By recalling the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and suggesting that the U.S. would re-enter the Iranian nuclear agreement, Biden is giving Iran time to develop its nuclear capabilities and losing trust among its allies in the region. To avoid an all-out war, the president must immediately consult with his allies and develop a unified action plan to confront Iran.

This roadmap would continue the gains that have been made toward forging a lasting peace in the Middle East and ensure that tyrants like those who control Iran are not re-emboldened. It would allow Biden to strengthen America’s commitment to its allies, while building on the previous administration’s strategic foreign policy successes.

A new poll shows that 59 per cent of Jordanians and Saudis, along with 58 per cent of Egyptians and 56 per cent of U.A.E. residents support normalization with Israel 

As a child, I was enchanted by the folklore tales of the Arabian Nights. These were magical stories embedded in chronicles interwoven with hidden motivations, smoke and mirrors. In the modern Middle East, the art of the illusion, like a mirage, is part of the daily façade.

Qatar, as an example, seems to have honed in on a self-image that makes one wonder about those tales from One Thousand and One Nights. Fiction can become reality and my interest piqued when a press release landed in my inbox from the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. It called attention to a new poll that found “huge appetite for democracy among Arab citizens.”

I was pleasantly intrigued because a democratic Qatar would be wonderful. How reassuring and affirmative to read that “there is near unanimous support for democracy … 76 per cent of Arabs support a democratic system.” Well, that’s great news because just the other day, I read a report published by Freedom House that labelled Qatar as “Not Free,” giving it a score of 25 out of 100 for poor political rights and civil liberties. In comparison, for example, Canada’s score is a modest 98.

Freedom House says that “Qatar’s hereditary emir holds all executive and legislative authority, and ultimately controls the judiciary as well. Political parties are not permitted, and … the vast majority of its population are non citizens with no political rights, few civil liberties, and limited access to economic opportunity.” Well, thankfully, this new opinion poll taken from 13 Arab countries will force substantive democratic change and encourage peace with Israel. Right?

Wrong, says my friend and peace activist Imam Muhammed Tawhidi. “Qatar is a country that is striving hard to undo the peace efforts between the U.A.E., Israel and Bahrain because they do not recognize the Jewish State,” he told me in a recent interview. “And they do not want anyone else to recognize Israel.” Tawhidi may have a point: the Doha survey also reported that “88 per cent of citizens refuse to recognize the State of Israel, citing political reasons as opposed to religious or cultural ones.”

This is hard to digest for an optimist given the incredible progress the Middle East has made. Sudan’s high council, for example, just announced its intention to normalize relations with Israel, according to i24 News. There is a long way to go to break down barriers and build bridges of trust and friendship. Could there be something else is at play here? Why else would the Doha press release point out that “the majority of Saudi citizens reject recognition of Israel, in spite of a high rate of nonresponse in the Saudi context given current conditions of repression”?

Consider as well that in 2017, the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt all severed relations with Qatar. They suspended trade and closed their airspace to the country, accusing it of supporting terrorism, among other matters. Since the Saudis may be warming to ties with Israel, while Egypt has a long standing peace agreement with it, Qatar may be feeling isolated.

To highlight the unfortunate friction between these countries, an editorial published this week in Egypt Today was scathing in its rebuke of Qatar: “the government of Qatar has created a sea of lies and used it to jeopardize the stability and security of many nations under the pretext of defending and propagating freedom of opinion and expression.”

Despite the fact that Jared Kushner made a personal appeal for Qatar to join the Abraham Accords Declaration by meeting with its emir on Sept. 4th, its ambassador to the U.S. recently said, “we believe in a two-state solution for the Palestinians and in securing Israel’s borders, and if these conditions are fulfilled, then we don’t see any reason for Qatar to not normalize relations with Israel.” Sadly for its people, the Palestinian leadership refuses to normalize ties with Israel.

The truth of course is that there is a story within a story here — Israel and Qatar have been co-operating for many years; Israel even kept a trade office in Doha. In 2019 an Israeli athlete was feted with Israel’s flag and anthem after winning gold in Doha. Both countries have been working together around humanitarian aid to Gaza and, most importantly, Doha was involved in negotiating a truce between Israel and Hamas this summer after a round of rocket attacks by the terror group.

Disappointingly, Doha’s poll points out that the majority of Arabs (89 per cent) believe Israel poses a threat to security and stability (81 per cent said the same of America), despite the fact Israel is a democracy and there is overwhelming support in the survey results for democratization. 

But more positive results from another new survey, this one by U.S.-based Zogby Analytics, found that 59 per cent of Jordanians and Saudis, along with 58 per cent of Egyptians and 56 per cent of the residents of the U.A.E., support normalization with Israel.

Nothing that happens in the Middle East ever happens in a straight line. Mostly, what happens is the exact opposite of what has been unfolding in public. It’s possible that Doha will make a surprise move and normalize ties with Israel, while re-establishing ties with its neighbours.

The moment for peace in the Middle East has arrived. It’s time for everyone to put aside the surveys, the fables and the pretences and join the peace of the brave.

Twenty-five years ago, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in cold blood. And so were the dreams of peace in the Middle East

It was a beautiful sunny autumn day in Washington, D.C. The world was watching with anticipation as leaders gathered on the White House lawn. We were filled with hope and awareness about witnessing a historical moment, which was capped by a now-infamous handshake and what promised to be a new chapter that would end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

That fateful day on Sept. 13, 1993, could not have been more exciting for me, having just started my career in the Jewish community. My earliest recollection as a child was seeing my father in army fatigues come home from the brutal Yom Kippur War. The possibility of losing my father to war left me with an indelible impression and a longing for peace.

And so, the signing of the Oslo Accords and the Declaration of Principles was cause for hope. Little did I know that just two years later, I would be thrust into organizing a 5,000-plus person memorial for Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin at the Centennial Arena in Toronto. Rabin’s assassination by a fellow Jew hit the Jewish community like a bulldozer. Young students cried, sang and lit candles outside the arena. They shared their shattered hopes and dreams for the future.

It’s incomprehensible to think that 27 years later, a full generation of Palestinians and Israelis have grown up without having witnessed the pledges for peace that were made on that day in Washington. They missed the part where PLO leader Yasser Arafat promised U.S. President Bill Clinton and the Palestinian people that he would promote the “values for freedom, justice and human rights.” His promise to “usher in an age of peace, co-existence and equal rights” meant nothing. It flew in the face of his handshake with Rabin, and Clinton’s warm embrace.

Rabin was often criticized for what many said was naivete for believing Arafat wanted to make peace with Israel. However, Rabin’s grim face during the signing and reluctant handshake revealed that the deal pained him. A former war hero, he knew his enemy well but decided to give peace a chance. In his remarks, Rabin explained that he was determined to “put an end to hostilities so that our children, our chidren’s children, will no longer experience the painful cost of war, violence and terror.”

He held up his end of the bargain for two years and on Sept. 28, 1995 — just one month before his assassination — he agreed to move to the next stage of the Oslo Accords, the Interim Agreement. It marked the conclusion of the first stage of negotiations between Israel and the PLO. Its main objective was to broaden Palestinian self-government in the West Bank through an elected self-governing authority, in order to foster a new era of co-operation and peaceful co-existence.

But while Arafat called violence “morally reprehensible” at the signing ceremony, nothing was further from the truth. Like the fable about a scorpion who can’t help himself and kills the frog that is carrying him across the water, Arafat would use his foothold in Ramallah to plunge his people into a war of attrition with Israel. Through his divisive actions, he lost control of the Gaza Strip, giving rise to a mini terrorist state now run by Hamas.

Months after Rabin’s death, a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus in Jerusalem, killing 17 civilians and wounding 48. A month later, another killer blew himself up outside the Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv, killing 13 people and wounding 130. The chaos of dozens of suicide bombings continued well into the 2000s. They included the horrific attack on the dolphinarium in which 21 youths were killed and the Sbarro attack in central Jerusalem in which 15 civilians were killed, including seven children.

Perhaps Rabin foresaw what would happen should the peace process derail. In his last moments of life, on Nov. 4, 1995, he still held out hope for peace despite the public and political pressure. In his final speech at a peace rally in Tel Aviv’s main square (now called Rabin Square), he said, “There are enemies of peace who are trying to hurt us in order to torpedo the peace process. I want to say bluntly that we have found a partner for peace among the Palestinians as well. The PLO, which was an enemy, has ceased to engage in terrorism.”

Moments later, following the singing of the classic Hebrew melody, the “Song for Peace,” Rabin was shot by a Jewish assailant who wanted to stop the peace process. He did. For Israelis and the Jewish world, this was their JFK moment. Time stood still. The pain of betrayal by one of their own still haunts the nation. But Israel’s quest for peace hasn’t abated.

And so, for everyone who shared this brief moment in time, who participated in the memorial rally 25 years ago, who sang the “Song for Peace” at the rally the night Rabin was shot and who continue to impart his message of hope and peace to the next generation — you might be wondering, where do we go from here?

We go to where the wisdom of sages point us in sacred text. They instructed that even while it may not be our responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world, even when cut short as in the case of Rabin, we are not free to desist from it either. And thus, it is up to us to carry this work forward and to never give up on making peace. As Rabin aptly said, “The path of peace is preferable to war.”

In world of instability and despair, the international community has a strategic interest in strengthening ties and increasing co-operation. And it seems as though everyone is talking peace these days, including Pope Francis, who gathered leaders of world religions in Rome last in October 2020 for an International Prayer Meeting for Peace and to sign the Rome 2020 Appeal for Peace.

In today’s world, we could all use a little hope. Despite political and social turmoil, war and the decline of democracies worldwide, we must strive for a world of peaceful co-existence. That requires us to focus on the good, celebrate humanity’s wins and continue striving for the betterment of humanity.

Perhaps it was this sentiment, alongside historic developments in the Middle East, that inspired Pope Francis to gather faith leaders and encourage global co-operation. Perhaps its a rosy and optimistic view; that, despite the odds, humans can rise above their primal need for conflict. And even with all that’s wrong with the world, there are some encouraging signs of hope.

Sudan’s seemingly hesitant acquiescence to peace with Israel is significant. After all, it is the country that hosted the infamous Arab League conference in Khartoum in 1967 that unabashedly declared: no peace with Israel; no recognition of Israel; no negotiation with Israel! But realpolitik finally became a factor for Sudan — a country that’s desperate for cash, food and being removed from the United States’ terror list.

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. In the Middle East, however, necessity is the mother of peace. And when peace happens in that region, it happens expediently. At the same time Israeli negotiators were in Khartoum in the fall of 2020 hammering out a peace deal, an Etihad Airways plane landing in Tel Aviv carrying a United Arab Emirates delegation to sign a $3-billion deal for regional development. Meanwhile, an El Al planes are touching down in Bahrain to finalize various trade agreements with that country.

But on the sidelines of these achievements is a partnership that is maturing. India and Israel’s blossoming friendship stands as a model of success for what the Abraham Accords will look like two years from now. Diplomatic entreaties between the two countries began on the sidelines of the United Nations in 2014, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was followed by Modi’s historic state visit to Israel in 2017 and Netanyahu’s visit to India the following year.

Israel’s business savvy ambassador to India told us that the relationship between the two countries has accelerated at warp speed recently. Ron Malka, who was the acting chairman of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange among other highly coveted positions in Israel, is all about developing a strategic relationship with India on issues like food, water, science and agriculture. Both being democracies, the two countries have many shared values, along with strategic and military interests.

India overcame the psychological barrier with Israel over the Palestinian issue. Ambassador Malka said, “It has now ‘de-hyphenized’ the matter in order to normalize relations with Israel. We may not agree on everything … but we can work together on many projects and respectfully discuss issues that have strained us previously.” Today, for example, Malka proudly said that Israel operates some 29 agricultural centres that teach around 147,000 Indian farmers about the latest farming and water irrigation technologies.

That diplomacy has translated into results. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, with India’s help, Israel was immediately able to airlift thousands of young Israelis home from remote areas of the country. For its part, India also supplied Israel with much-needed raw materials to produce pharmaceuticals and is currently conducting joint research on rapid COVID-19 tests. Concurrently, Malka said that as a good will gesture, he personally flew to Israel and brought back lifesaving medical equipment for a local hospital.

We need to envelope the world in a culture of peace. “A culture of peace is inseparable from human rights, respect for diversity and fairer societies,” said United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Even though human history is fraught by conflict and war, we must learn to overcome our own tendencies. That comes about through peacemaking, co-operation and an intense desire for mutual engagement.

The world needs this now more than ever.

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A Saudi prince has been scathing in his criticism of the Palestinian response to the peace pacts

Perhaps it’s the audacity of our times. The abnormality of these days bring some pleasant gifts. The Saudis for instance, struck hard at Palestinian leadership in the fall of 2020.

Perhaps they were paving the way toward peace with Israel. Or maybe they were giving then U.S. President Donald Trump a much needed lifeline before the election. Either way, like others who are using COVID for cover, they were dumping their standard operating procedure in this era of instability.

Given their harsh rhetoric toward Israel over the years, a peace agreement with Israel seemed unlikely in my lifetime. But in just a few months, we have witnessed the unimaginable signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the U.A.E., Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Behind the scenes of this trial balloon were the Saudis, who gave the peace deal an all-clear blessing and permission for Israeli commercial flights over their territory.

None of the exciting developments mattered in comparison with the earthquake that unfolded thereafter. By silently acquiescing to the peace agreement, the Saudis shattered the foundational Palestinian belief that their cause was moral and just. Predictably, and because Palestinian leaders never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity, they went on the offensive — or what the Saudis called a “low level of discourse” — denouncing the peace agreement.

The Saudi reaction to this perceived disrespectful tone was swift. Uncharacteristically, they released a glossy pseudo-video interview on Al Arabiya that smashed at the very heart of the Palestinian project itself. They set upon them none other than Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the revered former director general of Saudi intelligence and more importantly, its ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005.

Prince Bandar’s family’s closeness with the monarchy is accentuated by the fact that his daughter, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, is now Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington. And from this perspective it becomes clearer that the prince’s public allegations of Palestinian failure to achieve a settlement were likely condoned by the Kingdom itself. 

He accused the Palestinians of having a history of failure, of making bad decisions, of not taking the Kingdom’s advice and most profoundly, of always siding with the “losing side.”

“Who are the allies of the Palestinians now?” Prince Bandar asked rhetorically. “Is it Iran, which is using the Palestinian cause as a pretext at the expense of the Palestinian people? … 

Or is it Turkey, which Hamas leaders have thanked for its stance in support of Hamas and the Palestinian cause?” And he was quick to remind them how in 1988, Yasser Arafat stood side by side with Saddam Hussein while Iraqi scuds were falling on Riyadh.

“There is something that successive Palestinian leadership historically share in common: they always bet on the losing side, and that comes at a price” said the prince. One of those historical Palestinian mistakes was the alignment of Jerusalem’s Grand Mufti, Amin al-Husseini, with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis — instead of joining the British who ultimately won the Second World War and relinquished control to the fledgling Jewish state.

What triggered this acrimony was not only a frustration with the Palestinian leadership, but a strong desire to normalize relations with Israel. The Palestinians have been dictating an anti-normalization agenda for 72 years. What has been achieved other than more corruption and a population left stateless and in ruins?

Riyadh has publicly put the Palestinian leadership on notice. It is readying its population for a transition toward peace by turning the tables on the Palestinians. Perhaps tough brotherly love will bring them back to the negotiating table with Israel. Either way, it appears the Kingdom is ready to change its operating procedure and give peace a chance.