Insight: A new spirit has joined the clan of peace.
Last week, I took a close friend from a gulf state to the #Dubai desert, along with some American and Israeli friends. It was his first encounter with Israelis. As we relaxed and enjoyed our time together, he asked in surprise, "Are these the Israelis we are supposed to hate? They seem like nice people."
I responded, "Welcome to the club of humanity, my friend. I said the same thing 14 years ago in Paris."
First encounters are crucial; they shatter the ice of hate. He spent much of his time questioning my Israeli friends about Israel, “apartheid” allegations, and the war. He was previously convinced that the October 7 attacks never happened, but now he knows the truth.
I'm writing this feeling proud that he's beginning to change his views on Israelis and Jews, challenging what he was taught by radical Islamism and preachers of hate.
This is precisely why pro-Hamas and Free Palestine gangs despise the warm peace of the Abraham Accords—they don't want ordinary Arabs to discover the truth about the Israeli people, who cherish life and seek peace with their neighbors.
This story isn't just his; it echoes my own transformation. I, too, harbored hatred towards Jews in my youth until a French family in Paris changed my life in 2010. I overcame the lies of Islamism, defeating it, with knowledge.
Now, my friend is joining this clan of peace. He kept asking for books, references, and TV shows to help free his mind, feeling liberated. (I suggested Ofra Haza and Yehoram Gaon).
This shift can ripple out to more Arabs who have been indoctrinated by radical extremism.
God bless the Abraham Accords, and may God change the hearts of those filled with hate, helping them cast it aside to embrace His grace in loving their fellow human beings, especially the Jewish people.
