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American Jewish Committee to open office in UAE

New York - Plans for an AJC office in the UAE have been underway for nearly a year.

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The American Jewish Committee (AJC) has announced plans to open its first office in the Arab world in the United Arab Emirates.  
The leading American Jewish advocacy organisation announced its plans to open a UAE office in the wake of the historic announcement on August 13 by President Donald Trump, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the UAE and Israel would establish full diplomatic relations.    
According to an official press brief on the ACJ website, plans for an AJC office in the UAE has been underway for nearly a year. The UAE office would make this ACJ's 13th international outpost. "AJC delegations have visited the UAE at least annually for more than 20 years and consulted regularly with senior officials, business and interfaith leaders, diplomats, and policy analysts there and in the United States" said the release. 

 

 

 

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?? BREAKING: AJC will open an office in the United Arab Emirates????, building on more than 25 years of experience in advancing understanding and fostering cooperation between Arab states and the Jewish people.
A post shared by AJC Global (@ajc.global) on Sep 2, 2020 at 4:08pm PDT

AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson has led the agency's Arab outreach efforts. Commenting on the announcement, Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States, said, "Since before the country's founding, UAE society has encouraged tolerance and inclusion. AJC's longstanding dialogue and engagement with the UAE has played a productive role, consistent with this vision. We welcome this announcement, and look forward to working with AJC in the days ahead as they continue their effective engagement in the region." 
In response to the AJC announcement, the UAE Embassy in the United States has tweeted, "We welcome @AJCGlobalannouncement, and look forward to working together in the days ahead. @AJCGlobal dialogue and engagement with the UAE has played a productive role over many years, consistent with our vision of tolerance and inclusion." 

Shukran, @UAEEmbassyUS!

We value your friendship and look forward to working with the UAE to advance our shared vision for Arab-Israeli reconciliation and broader regional peace. https://t.co/WeL811ggS3
- American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) September 2, 2020

 
"The establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel realises a vision that AJC has helped to pursue for decades," said David Harris, AJC CEO. "By moving forward on our plans to open an office in the Emirates, AJC hopes to expand on our decades of bridge-building and create a wider network of stakeholders in the new relationships made possible on Aug. 13."
 
"This is a big step, reflecting dramatic changes taking place in parts of the Middle East, starting with the UAE. The establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel realizes a vision that AJC has helped to pursue for decades," Harris also posted on his Twitter feed.  
 
Yehuda Sarna, Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates said, "AJC played an essential convening role early on in the history of our community. Its mission aligns with our aspiration to serve as a 'lighthouse community,' a platform for cross-cultural engagement, within the UAE and beyond. Through its professionalism, care, nuance, and respect for others, AJC has rightly earned the trust of so many leaders in this region."   
UAE Ambassador to the UN Lana Nusseibeh appeared on an AJC Advocacy Anywhere webinar in May; UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash was a featured speaker in the AJC Virtual Global Forum in June, the press release added.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com