In contrast to Israel's peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, after which the Arab side remained obstinate about not building bridges between their people and the Israelis, the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations is already different.
Israel's Foreign Ministry conducted an online poll among residents of the Gulf States, and 44% of Emiratis responded that they would like to visit Israel to see the country's Islamic holy sites.
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Attorney Ross Kriel, 55, head of the oldest Jewish community in the UAE, is astonished at how fast warm ties are developing between Israel and the UAE.
"Only a week ago, the things happening today were still a dream, like seeing the Israelis and Emirati flags flying side by side on the front pages of local newspapers," Kriel says.
"It's going to be a warm peace," he adds.
Some 3,000 Jews currently live and work in the UAE, including several dozen Israelis who hold second citizenships. Most of them live in Dubai or in Abu Dhabi.
Kriel's own community was established 12 years ago. There are two younger Jewish communities in the Emirates, including one comprised of Chabad members. The community synagogue is located in the Kriel family's villa, not far from the famous Burj al Arab Hotel.
"There are no guards at the entrance to the house. We have community members from Antwerp, Paris, and Geneva who feel safer here than in Europe," Kriel says.
"The only anti-Semitism I've experienced was from Europeans. There is a social contract of mutual respect here between all parts of the real society," he explains.
Kriel's son Isaac is scheduled to be the first member of the Dubai Jewish community to celebrate a bar mitzvah there, this coming November. His 26-year-old nephew, who moved to Dubai from Israel last year and is trying his hand as a developer, makes an interesting observation about differences in mentality.
"The locals here will have to understand that there are all kinds of Israelis – aggressive and gentle. The Emirates are a melting pot of different cultures. About 100 different nationalities live here, so they'll be ready for Israelis," he says.
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