Foundation for Ethnic Understanding President Rabbi Marc Schneier spoke to Arutz Sheva about his groundbreaking work bringing understanding and normalization between Israel and the Arab Gulf states: "We're living in extraordinary times," Rabbi Schneier said. "There's a warming of relations between the Arab Gulf states and Israel. And one particular area where I think I've been very, very successful is making it clear to both Gulf leaders and to Muslim interfaith leaders that you cannot separate out Israel from Judaism.

"Meaning, Israel's not a seventy-year-old political reality for the Jewish People. Israel's at the very core; it's at the very center of Judaism, of our religion. So that asking to break out Israel from Judaism is like my asking halal and shariya to be broken out of Islam."

Rabbi Marc Schneier with Adel Al Jubeir (Saudi Arabia)
Rabbi Marc Schneier with Adel Al Jubeir (Saudi Arabia)Foundation For Ethnic Understanding

Rabbi Schneier described the changes in attitudes he has observed over the years of his work: "So I've been involved with the Gulf states for close to twelve years. And ten years ago I would hear comments like, 'You know, Rabbis, we have nothing against Jews; it's the Zionists, it's the Israelis.' I no longer hear those comments, I no longer have that conversation. There is a recognition that if you want to engage in dialogue with the Jewish People, with the Jewish community; if you want to engage in an interreligious dialogue between Islam and Judaism, that you also need to acknowledge that Israel is very much at the core of the Jewish religion."

"Things are changing. I'm not going to sit here and to represent that 'we have arrived at the Promised Land' of Jewish/Muslim relations, or the Promised Land of Gulf/Israel relations. And if I can remind our viewers that in the Torah it took forty years to get to the Promised Land. I'm not suggesting that it will take that long to get to the Promised Land in terms of relations between Israel and the Gulf, but the wonderful news is that the journey has begun. And it's a journey that's moving in a very positive direction today."

Indeed, in December 1964, Bahrain hosted the Arab Regional Israel Boycott Conference. Today, they are looking to grow their own Jewish community: "The fact is that even in the Gulf I've been asked by different leaders, from Bahrain, from Khatar, from the United Arab Emirates to assist them in helping to build Jewish life in the Gulf. For example in Bahrain there is a Jewish community. A small Jewish community. But I've been asked by the King of Bahrain to help not only preserve the Jewish community, but to help grow the Jewish community, and what would it take to grow the Jewish community.

"These are all very, very positive developments along the journey; discussions that would not have taken place ten years ago, five years ago, even two years ago."

Rabbi Marc Schneier with UAE's Sheikh Nahyan (October 2018)
Foundation For Ethnic Understanding

They want peace with Israel, they want a connection with Israel?

"They very much desire establishing relations with Israel. Most people believe that their primary reason is the existentialist threat coming from Iran. I would make that reason number two. Number one, what I hear from most Gulf leaders, whether it's from Saudi Arabia or whether it's from Qatar or others, is that the primary reason is econimics, and I've heard comment like 'With our wealth and Israel's brain trust, Israel's technology, we could develop together the most powerful region in the world.

"My work focuses on the six Gulf states. That's Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the State of Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait. I'm prepared to suggest or to predict that in the year 2019 you're going to see either one or two Arab Gulf states establishing relations with Israel. I do believe the first state will be the Kingdom of Bahrain. The King of Bahrain consistently - at least since I've known the King for seven-and-a-half years - has consistently made pronouncements in support of Israel. Just last week the Foreign Minister of Bahrain applauded Israel for cleaning out the tunnels in the north, and just a few days ago the Foreign Minister of Bahrain tweeted his support for Australia for recognizing West Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel."

"So you see theat the Kingdom of Bahrain has been very, very consistent in supporting Israel and wanting to establish diplomatic relations with Israel."

"In Bahrain you have a very tiny Jewish community of thirty-seven Jews. It's the only Gulf state that has an official synagogue, and the King would very much like to see that community grow.

"Recently we discovered that there is a small Jewish congregation in the Emirates, in Dubai, and again the Emirates would like to see that community grow.

"And then even in Qatar, for example, at their large university, which is a goup of many universities from the United States, there can be between 75-100 university students and college professors who are Jewish, so you see that in different Gulf states you do have tiny, small Jewish communities."

Saudi Arabia's King Salman welcomes Trump to dance with sword during welcome
Saudi Arabia's King Salman welcomes Trump to dance with sword during welcomeReuters

"Of all the six Gulf states, the one that is the most public, the one that is the most visible in working closely with the Israeli government is the Stae of Qatar. So that the money that was brought to Gaza was not only brought with the blessing of the Israeli government, it was brought at the request of the Israeli government. So Qatar and Israel would be a wonderful example of an Arab Gulf state and the State of Israel working and cooperating together."

"People are very excited, if not euphoric, and are very supportive of my work. When in modern Jewish history have you had the forces of the United States, specifically the Trump Administration, the State of Israel, and the six Gulf states all coming together - all these forces coming together.

"This is a time of great opportunity and great expectations and why I for one am very, very optimistic that we can see a very genuine, authentic, comprehensive peace for the region that would be a great benefit not only to the Israelis but to the Palestinians as well."

Rabbi Schneier with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain
Rabbi Schneier with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of BahrainFoundation For Ethnic Understanding
Area map
Area mapiStock

Dubai Marina
Dubai MarinaiStock
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaiStock
Kuwait Sunset
iStock
Muscat, Oman
Muscat, OmaniStock
Doha, Qatar
Doha, QatariStock
UAE Aerobatic Team Al Fursan (Fursan Al Emarat) performs at Marrakech Air Show
UAE Aerobatic Team Al Fursan (Fursan Al Emarat) performs at Marrakech Air ShowiStock
Manama at night, Bahrain
Manama at night, BahrainiStock