Ab Freig, co-chair of the Arab-Jewish Dialogue told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that "I'm delighted" with the U.A.E.-Israel normalization deal. "The Middle East needs more stability and peace and this is one step in the right direction. Hopefully, it will set the stage for a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel has agreements with Egypt and Jordan and there is now a third Arab country (The U.A.E) who will sit down with Israel and explain the importance of having the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolved . I'd like to see the conflict resolved in my lifetime." It is time to try a different approach as Albert Einstein said, the sign of insanity is trying the same thing time and time again and expect different results. A different approach, a new peaceful approach must be tried. It is the moral obligation for all parties concerned to find a JUST resolution.
Freig also said regarding Israel's announcement that it is suspending unilateral annexation over parts of the West Bank, that "this is a step in the right direction and the suspension is permanent, and I hope this will lead to other positive steps to prepare for the conflict to be resolved." Freig also said he thinks some other Arab countries will follow U.A.E's lead and enter into agreements with Israel but "I don't know when."
Freig emphasized that this agreement between U.A.E. and Israel speaks about "normalization of relations" and "this will have a huge economic advantage for the parties involved." Freig added, " Hopefully others will see the benefits of this normalization agreement and follow it and also say we need to have the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolved. The Palestinians have suffered for many years and they deserve a life of peace and prosperity like many others in the world. They should not continue to live under occupation."
"I would like to see Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace and security."
