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Bahrain’s Ambassador to the United States: «Bahrain and Israel and will lead to a sustainable peace in the Middle East»

AJN Agency.- The signing of the Abraham agreements represents the “promise to build a better life with security and opportunities for all,” said Houda Nonoo, former Bahrain ambassador to the United States in an exclusive interview with the AJN agency.

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H.E. Ambassador Houda Nonoo (hi res)

AJN Agency.- Houda Nonoo was Bahrain’s ambassador to the United States between 2008 and 2013 and became the first Jewish diplomat in the Arab region, and the third woman to be designated Bahrain’s ambassador. In dialogue with the AJN agency, she assured that “while anti-Semitism is on the rise in the West, there is a great way of life in Bahrain and it is a wonderful place to raise a Jewish family”.

During the interview with AJN, Ambassador Nonoo shared her analysis on the Abraham Accords signed with Israel and stressed that «they will lead to a sustainable peace in the Middle East.»

Furthermore, she narrated what was it like to visit Israel for the first time in November 2020: “I had the honour and privilege of participating in a delegation, led by the Foreign Minister to Israel – the first time Bahraini officials landed in Israel, flying on our national carrier, Gulf Air Flight number 972. While it was historic and memorable for all, it was particularly exciting for me as a Bahraini Jew.»

AJN: What do the Abraham Accords mean to you?

HN: As a citizen of this region, I am filled with excitement to see the construction of a new Middle East, one focused on coexistence and prosperity. I am immensely grateful to His Majesty, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness, Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their leadership, vision, and courage to lead our nation proudly and boldly into the future through the signing of the Abraham Accords. I, like my fellow Bahraini citizens, express our support and enthusiasm, for the opportunity our leaders have seized and the promise it represents to build a better life with security and opportunity for all of us and for future generations still to come.

AJN: What is your perception of this new reality in the Middle East?

HN: I believe that at the core of this agreement is the desire to create a new Middle East, one built on peace and prosperity for all. I believe that the growing partnerships between Bahrain and Israel, will lead to sustainable peace in the region.

AJN: After the signing of the Abraham Accords, social networks were flooded with favorable expressions and a lot of acceptance that left us astonished.
Were you also surprised or did you already know that the signing would be very well received?

HN: Yes, it was very exciting to see social media was buzzing with comments, photos and videos of support. Immediately after the announcement of the establishment of relations, our Jewish community in Bahrain received calls and emails from Jews around the world wishing us a mazal tov – or mabrouk, as we say in Arabic – and shared their enthusiasm and eagerness to visit us soon.

world trade center

El World Trade Center de Bahrein

AJN: What do you believe is the future for the Bahrain-Israel relationship following the signing of the Accords?

HN: While 2020 was historic for Bahrain and Israel, I have always felt that 2021 would be even better as we begin to feel its influence. In Bahrain, we see a few areas of opportunity resulting from the new Bahrain-Israel relationship, including oil & gas, logistics, information, cyber-security, technology, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, education, and travel and tourism.

The COVID pandemic impacted economies around the world. Now, as economies open up again, there is a new market for businesses in Bahrain and Israel to tap into. The opportunities in technology, start-ups, fintech, industrial manufacturing, real estate, agriculture, food processing and consumer goods have no limits. Additionally, our countries can benefit from sharing best practices as we continue to strengthen our economies.

In January, the National Bank of Bahrain signed MOUs with Israel’s two largest banks – Bank Hapoalim and Bank Leumi. This was an important first step as both governments created plans to help their business communities participate in opportunities in both markets. These MOUs helped enable investments, trade, clearing services, foreign exchange, securities trade and other critical components to facilitate business between the two.

AJN: Was there an agreement also signed with Mekorot, the Israeli water company?

HN: Yes. Recently, Bahrain signed a $3 million-dollar agreement with Mekorot to share water knowledge and technologies. The agreement includes consulting by Mekorot for Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) regarding water projects.

Israel is known for its healthcare innovation, creating cutting edge solutions to some of the world’s most complex healthcare challenges. By partnering, we can propel healthcare forward. We can also benefit from an exchange of doctors, research and medical training programs.

Recently, Bahrain and Israel announced our first medical cooperation initiative between Salmaniya Medical Complex, our largest government hospital, and Sheba Medical Center which includes exchange programs.

Gulf Air, our national carrier, announced that it is planning on launching direct flights to Tel Aviv. I believe that will open up travel between our two countries and many of our hotels are developing special packages and offerings for Israeli guests.

This is just the beginning, there are many more announcements to come.

AJN: In November 2020, you visited Israel for the first time, can you describe your experience?

HN: I had the honour and privilege of participating in a delegation, led by the Foreign Minister to Israel – the first time Bahraini officials landed in Israel, flying on our national carrier, Gulf Air Flight number 972. While it was historic and memorable for all, it was particularly exciting for me as a Bahraini Jew.

This was my very first visit to Israel. Ironically, after never visiting Israel my whole life, I went twice within one week. During my five years serving in Washington, I made many new friends and was often asked if I had been to Israel. I always said, “Not yet.” In my heart, I hoped and prayed for the opportunity, but I was determined to wait for the moment when circumstances would allow such a visit. As a loyal and committed citizen of Bahrain, I naturally respected the reality of the situation. I could only dream. And hope. And wait. And dream some more. In November, that dream became a reality.

I am so delighted to have had the chance to visit. It was the manifestation of a dream that I have dreamed since I was a young child. As we embarked on the flight back to Manama, I thought about how one of the drivers for the Abraham Accords was to create a better future for our children – yours and mine. We are setting an example for them that focuses on building relationships. One which reminds them that we are stronger together. I pray that all of us now dedicate ourselves to the great work ahead to make the dreams come true for the youth of our region, and that’s broader than just the youth in Israel and the Gulf.

AJN: I’ve seen your Shabbat Shalom series every Friday through your social media. What inspired you to do this?

HN: I have always enjoyed connecting with people and after the Abraham Accords, I received many inquiries from media and Jews around the world, asking me about what this time meant for me, for our community and asking to learn more about Bahrain and our Jewish community. This became the impetus for me to rejoin Twitter and in many ways, the response was even more than I anticipated.

Many of the questions I receive center around a common theme – what is it like being Jewish in Bahrain? While I could continue to answer those questions, I wanted to do more, and to show just how accepting Bahrain is of our religion.

I was inspired to create the Shabbat Shalom series where each Friday, I bring traditionally Jewish items – like my Shabbat candles and Kiddush cup – and the now famous Kedem bottle of grape juice and take a picture of them with Bahraini landmarks such as the Tree of Life and King Fahd Causeway, which links Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

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Gran Mezquita de Bahrein

So far, these two words, “Shabbat Shalom,” have created a buzz and have reached more than 1.8 million people from all over the world who wish each other Shabbat Shalom because of these tweets. The feedback has been amazing – Jews, Muslims and Christians from all over the world (the US, UK, Europe, the Gulf, Israel, other Middle Eastern countries and Asia), all replying with a Shabbat Shalom greeting of their own and learning about Bahrain at the same time.

My hope is that, as more people are vaccinated that they will come visit Bahrain in person and experience these sites for themselves but until then, I’ll continue to enjoy sharing these little slices of Bahrain with you all.

AJN: In February, the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities launched and which you sit on the board of. What inspired the creation of the AGJC?

HN: As Jewish life continues to grow in the Arabian Gulf as more Jews move to the region for business opportunities, there is a greater need for more kosher food options, Pesach programs in hotels, Jewish schools, youth programming, additional synagogues and Jewish infrastructure. The Gulf has many things to offer. For example, whereas antisemitism is on the rise in the West, we don’t have any issues with that here. There is a great lifestyle, and it is a wonderful place to raise a Jewish family.

The AGJC is a people-to-people network of the Jewish communities from the GCC countries, who are developing Jewish life in the region. While each community is independent, we share a common goal and vision: for Jewish life in the GCC to flourish for the benefit of both residents and visitors. Under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie, based in Dubai, and president Ebrahim Dawood Nonoo, based in Bahrain, we are partnering on different communal programs and services so that our resources, will enhance each other. The Association’s board consists of members from all six Gulf countries, who together will forge the path forward for growing Jewish life in the Gulf.

Under the AGJC, The Beth Din of Arabia, is in the process of being established, to assist with issues pertaining to personal status, inheritance, and voluntary business dispute resolutions in the region. The Arabian Kosher Certification Agency is also in the process of being created to oversee kashrut regionally using the same set of standards throughout all six Gulf countries, thereby making it easier for Jewish individuals to live in or travel around the Gulf.

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AJN News

Brazil. For the OAS, «it is not surprising that Hezbollah is in Venezuela, Nicaragua and with planes in Argentina»

After the Brazilian police arrested two people suspected of being linked to the terrorist group, Fernando Lottenberg told the AJN Agency that «Hezbollah’s cooperation with certain countries is intense, especially with Nicaragua and Venezuela», but stressed as «positive» that the security forces and the judiciary are «attentive».

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Miembros de Hezbollah sostienen banderas durante un mitin para conmemorar el Día de los Mártires de Hezbollah, en los suburbios del sur de Beirut, en noviembre de 2022 (Crédito de la foto: AZIZ TAHER/REUTERS)

Agencia AJN.- The Commissioner for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism of the OAS, Fernando Lottenberg, held an interview with the AJN Agency after the Brazilian police arrested two people suspected of being linked to Hezbollah and considered that «it is surprising that it is in Brazil, but not surprising that it is in this region».

Furthermore, regarding the wave of anti-Semitism around the world, he stressed that «it is not only up to the Jewish community to fight it».

«We need and demand the support of government institutions, police and civil society so that Jewish lives are protected. I think this is the most serious moment we are living through since the end of the Second World War,» he said.

-What can you tell us about what we have heard in Brazil in the last few hours?

-What happened in the last 48 hours was the arrest of two people in Brazil, one in Sao Paulo and one in Belen do Para, who apparently are there on instructions and hired by Hezbollah, to carry out terrorist acts in Brazil against Jewish institutions. Not much is known at the moment, the investigation is taking place in secret. What we do know, point one, is that there is collaboration between Israeli and Brazilian authorities. Point two, in a statement that one of them gave to the Federal Police, he confirmed the connection with Hezbollah and now we are trying to understand this factor, in the light of what happened in Argentina for example in the 90s and whether or not it has a connection with what is happening in the Middle East today. If it could be an attempt to open other fronts, to try to hurt Jewish communities in other countries. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, because we don’t know everything at the moment. It’s a bit strange that this is happening. We never heard that there would be something prepared against the Brazilian Jewish community, but of course, from what we know, it can’t be ruled out. I think we have to follow the investigations, what comes out of the police and the judges, and when we have more information we will talk about it again.

-On a personal level, do you have an opinion on why it may come to this?

-I want to draw a positive consequence from this, because it is something that is normally approached from another angle. You always talk about the Triple Frontier and that they are out there and nobody is looking at them and they do what they want. And I say from my own experience, as a former community leader, that this is not the case. The police are vigilant. When I was in the presidency (Jewish community), this is public, I am not giving away a secret, just remembering, someone was arrested in Foz do Iguaçu who was looking for funds and financing for Hezbollah. With the cooperation of the three countries he was arrested, prosecuted and tried. If we have to look at a positive angle, they are attentive, they are cooperating with institutions in other countries. If you ask me why at this moment, I still don’t know what to say. When I took a position in CONIB (Brazilian Israelite Confederation), I warned about the need for an anti-terrorism law in Brazil. Because the law was a bit outdated, it was from the time of the military regime, and judges avoided applying it. There was some resistance, but in the end we have a law, which is not ideal, but it allows us to do what was done now, because there is legislation for this. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, a person connected to Hezbollah was also arrested, who called himself ISIS and in communications it was found that he would try to do something against Jews. What is important about this law is that it allows, among other things, telematic interception. Terrorism is a dangerous crime, which must be investigated while it is being prepared, because after it is done, there is not much else to do. And this is a small legal revolution that allowed this kind of dangerous crime to be sanctioned.

It’s good that the police are vigilant, it’s good that we have adequate laws and we hope that, if it is confirmed that this is what is being said so far, that they will have adequate punishment.

-Are we only talking about Brazil or when we talk about Mossad and other organizations, can we think that they are looking at the region as a whole? I say this because of what’s happening in Bolivia, because of Venezuela…

-I think so. What we see is that it is surprising that they are in Brazil, but not surprising that they are in this region. Because the cooperation they have with certain countries in our region is intense. Especially Venezuela and Nicaragua. They come and go with great ease, whether they are Hezbollah or Iran. I remember the plane in Argentina. Or the visit of Mohsen Rezai, a senior Iranian leader, who was at Daniel Ortega’s inauguration for the fourth time and was not bothered at all. He is on Interpol’s red alert and was there circulating freely, the Nicaraguan police did nothing, the Argentinean ambassador found him and did not denounce his presence. It seems to us that they have a base here and it could be, I don’t want to be irresponsible, that they are expanding their domain and actions.

-Let’s talk about anti-Semitism and this wave that we are seeing in the world as a result of what happened in Israel with Hamas. What is your view of this?

-What I see first of all is that there is a qualification to be made. And I give him credit, because it is a formulation by Professor Carlos Rey of the Holocaust Museum in Curitiba, Brazil. He says you shouldn’t think of these things in terms of causality, of cause and effect. «What they do there increases anti-Semitism’, no. Anti-Semitism is already there. Anti-Semitism is already there. What happens is that this kind of situation allows them to take to the streets, to the networks, to say absurd things or to take decisions for violent acts, using what is happening in the Middle East as a pretext. I think this is important to say.

Then, we are seeing in the region, in Brazil CONIB detected an increase of almost 1000% compared to last year. In the UK, 600%; in France, 400%. We have to be concerned and we have to look for measures so that the security of Jewish communities is guaranteed. Yesterday I was in Montevideo for the commemoration of 85 years of the Kristallnacht or, as it is called today in Germany, the November pogrom, and in the speeches I gave I emphasized this. Because it is without doubt the most serious moment we are living through. Schools in France had to be closed, people are afraid in American universities to wear Stars of David, kippah or other symbols. It is not up to the Jewish community alone to fight it. We need and demand the support of governmental institutions, police, civil society and others, so that Jewish lives are protected. I believe that this is the most serious moment we are living through since the end of the Second World War. I don’t want to raise unfounded alarms, but it is important for people to be clear that the ill will, the hatred, the harshest prejudice against Jews is out there and we have to be vigilant.

-How does the OAS view this phenomenon?

-With concern. The creation of the function of Commissioner for Combating Anti-Semitism shows the interest and concern of the General Secretariat and the member states to be attentive to the issue. The secretary was already in the first days very firm in demanding the release of the hostages, of what happened on 7 October, and I think we have to try to keep Latin America and the Americas in general as safe as possible, as open as it has always been to minorities, and that Jews should not be the scapegoat once again.

-What is the message to the political leaders of the countries of the region?

-We special envoys met in Paris a fortnight ago. It was a meeting that was marked, but with the events, our main focus became their consequences in terms of what can happen to Jewish communities. We called on governments to assess the needs, to establish the security that Jewish communities need. We call on the police, law enforcement authorities, to be vigilant of threats to Jews. Be aware that Jews around the world cannot be held responsible for what happens in the Middle East. It is very important to make this distinction. We have seen with concern how some leaders in our region were looking for collective responsibility and this does not happen with other communities. It is only with the Jews and it is very serious. We cannot accept it. And the words of political leaders at this time matter a lot. So to talk about genocide, to talk about massacre, to talk about ethnic cleansing, which is not happening there, brings on the Jews an additional burden.

-This goes against the grain of what we see in Honduras, in Chile, in different countries that are going against this in the decisions they are taking with the State of Israel.

-That’s why we wrote this warning and sent it.

-In Argentina, there have been two attacks, the death of a prosecutor, Iranian planes circling overhead, is the region looking for any kind of misfortune that could happen?

-No doubt, and the communities are prepared. We have contacts. I am in Uruguay today, but I am always in contact with Chile, with Colombia, with various community organisations in our region. They are very well prepared and alert and in contact with the security forces to prevent anything more serious from happening. We are also in the political sphere acting with the other commissioners. Argentina has a commissioner, María Fabiana Loguzzo, who was in Paris, making this line of contact and transmission with authorities and civil society so that the issue gains the dimension and concern that it should have.

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AJN News

Javier Milei, the candidate who wants to take over Judaism?

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WhatsApp Image 2023-08-18 at 8.38.16 AM

By Daniel Berliner*

Much has been heard from Javier Milei about his relationship with Judaism, his classes and weekly Torah study, his decision to convert and the transfer of the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem.

At this time, the Argentine community leadership is extremely concerned about the candidate’s public use of Judaism, an annoyance that is added to his position against declaring 18 July a ‘National Day of Mourning’ in homage to the victims of the AMIA bombing, which goes against the grain of his supposedly great love.

Milei does not miss an opportunity to talk about his rabbi, the rabbi of the Moroccan community, who quickly had to recalculate to lower his exposure given that Sephardic communities tend to stay away from politics, unlike the Ashkenasim who do. This would mean that any activity outside of his rabbinic status would force him to resign so that he could work politically with Milei.

Clearly all of Milei’s senses were activated as he perceived that Judaism hides a «Divine» engineering, the one offered by the holy books, the kabbalists and the scholars of all ages, from Moses onwards with the giving of the 10 commandments for all mankind at Mount Sinai.

Milei perceived all this and plunged into a world he believes he can own, by the mere fact of a weekly Torah study, his possible conversion, a closing campaign with a great Shofar and a particular trip to the grave (ohel) of the Chabad Lubavitch rebbe in Brooklyn.

None of this will magically make him Jewish.

This Tuesday, in an interview with journalist Jonatan Viale, Milei failed to say «I have a Jewish friend» to the journalist’s question: Why are you compared so much to Hitler? The «Jewish friend’s» answer was not long in coming: «Maybe I’m doing something wrong, then. I don’t go to church, I go to temple, I don’t talk to priests, I have a head rabbi and I study the Torah. I am internationally recognized as a friend of Israel and a Torah scholar. I am close to being a Jew, I just need the blood covenant.

Regarding Israel, I am sure that he will be officially received by the Jewish State in due course, as was the case with Eduardo «Wado» de Pedro, Juan Manzur, Patricia Bullrich, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and Alberto Fernández.

With regard to the announcement of the transfer of the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem, Israel would welcome this initiative, as it has done with the various countries that have already moved their embassies.

Perhaps all this does not work as you suppose, as in your world, where everything can be bought. Judaism and the love for it is not so within your reach despite your efforts and your gifted instinct for orientation in wanting to embrace it. None of this will become an acquired right. The road to conversion is a long one and the Jewish people embrace all those who wish to do so, but with modesty and humility.

Our teachers, rabbis and kabbalists have in their DNA centuries of wisdom passed down for thousands of years from generation to generation.

The Torah, the Talmud, the Gemara are the books that hide those answers that our teachers teach us with infinite wisdom. Love of neighbour, deep humility and modesty are the true essence of Judaism. That is why acts of faith are performed in private, in reserve, without the need to declaim them and expose them as you do whenever possible. That is not part of Judaism.

Returning to Viale, it was striking to see during the whole programme, next to his computer, a kippah, which Milei had asked him to wear months ago. The programme was ending and he was leaving without the «gift» he had come for, so at the last second of air time he said to the journalist, «Weren’t you going to give me something?»

«I keep my promise,» Viale replied, and quickly perceived not to do so publicly knowing that it could lend itself to Milei continuing to add gallons to achieve the symbolisms that would allow him to further validate his Judaism. Viale then informed him that he would do so privately. Faced with the host’s position, the candidate publicly blurted out, «Actually, that’s why I came here».

In the DNA of the Jewish people, freedom is a primary good. In the people of the book, diversity of thought, of adherence and dissent are reasons to celebrate, never to condemn. In Judaism, freedom advances, advances in embracing the one who does not think alike, because that distinction and respect has driven us to condemn hegemonic thinking that has devastated life on so many occasions.

A few months ago, former President Trump reproached American Jews for not having sufficiently «appreciated» the policies towards Israel that he adopted during his term in office and warned them that they must «get their act together» before «it’s too late».

Trump took on some of the most pro-Israel US policies of recent decades and also made nods to American white supremacism, which has anti-Semitic overtones.

*Director of itongadol and AJN Agency

 

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