By Aryeh Savir/TPS • 22 April, 2019
Israel welcomed a call by a billionaire from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish ties with the Jewish state while singling out Iran as the real enemy.
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, a tycoon from the UAE, called on the Gulf States to seek “peace and cooperation with Israel,” economically and scientifically, as well as in agriculture and defense.
Al Habtoor posted a video on Twitter calling on the Gulf States to declare peace and with Israel while underscoring that the biggest enemy is Iran and not Israel.
“There is no need for compliments and lies to ourselves,” he said, noting that even the more than two million “Palestinians” have acquired Israeli citizenship and that Jordan and Egypt have already made the move.
“Why do not we make peace and be clear, rather than hiding and being unclear,” he demanded.
“Israel is not an enemy. Cooperation with it will to Benefit Everyone,” he stated.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday welcomed the invitation and posted his clip on its official Twitter page in Arabic
“Israelis are not enemies and cooperation with Israel will bring good to the region,” the Foreign Ministry stated
Israeli journalist Shimon Aran also praised Al Habtoor’s position, describing his enthusiasm for normalization with Israel as “the voice of reason.”
Israeli Minister of Communications Ayoub Kara lauded Al Habtoor’s statement and invited him to Israel.
“One cannot remain indifferent to Al Habtoor’s call for open relations between Israel and the Gulf States,” he stated, saying “he shared his belief.”
“It is time to end the hypocrisy in the Middle East, Iran and only it is the enemy of the Saudi coalition and Israel is a true seeker of peace,” he added.
This is not the first time Al-Habtoor has spoken positively of Israel. In March, he provoked controversy by praising the Israeli democracy, commenting on the Israeli attorney general’s investigation into corruption charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Al Habtoor is a 70-year-old billionaire from Dubai, founder and chairman of Al Habtoor Group and Chairman of Dubai National Insurance Company.
Al Habtoor was a former member of the Federal National Council and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His wealth is estimated at $ 2.3 billion.