The "Blue Chair" section: And this time, an interview with David Meidan, former head of the organization's Division of the organization • On the agreement with the Emirates: "This is a country that loves technology and entrepreneurship" • Says that in recent years Israeli companies have done billions in business with it • Will grow "

• David Meidan

  Photo: 

  Joshua Joseph

David Meidan, 



former head of the Tevel division at the



Pioneers' Institute with the United Arab Emirates. Formerly coordinator of the issue of prisoners and missing persons, and conducted negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit. Chairman of the company Furamon, which is active in the water industry

David Meidan, the peace agreement we were recently informed of is the result of many years of activity, which begins sometime with some very significant appointments of department heads at the institution.

"True. Arik Sharon appointed Meir Dagan as head of the Mossad in 2002. Sharon told Dagan that he wanted to emphasize two things: cultivate the Arab world and produce secret capabilities to deal with Iran. Dagan went for these two things, and his subsequent appointments were accordingly. My appointment to Tevel was in the same division with Yossi Cohen, at Tzomet (the division for the collection of the Mossad's collection officers and network of agents around the world; RP). We both served as heads of focal points. The day before the appointment, at the end of 2005, I was convinced that he would give me the junction and Yossi the world. It was almost obvious. Then a surprise - suddenly I was appointed to Tevel and Yossi to the intersection. "

Prime Minister Netanyahu on the agreement with the United Arab Emirates: "Peace out of power" // From the official channel of the Israeli Prime Minister on YouTube

How did Dagan explain this to you?

"Dagan attached importance to my Arabist affiliation, and saw it as a key element in advancing the organization's interest in the Arab world. In the test of the result and over the years, everyone understood that his decision was very right."

As the head of the World Division, you had a few more things on your mind.

"Although there is dealing with secret services such as the CIA, MI6, and of course with countries in Africa, South America and Eastern Europe for example. But 60 percent of my time was in the Arab countries. I got up in the morning and dealt with it. I brought Arabists from all over the place to strengthen the Arab part of the wing. I remember in my office I had a TV in front of me with Al Jazeera in the background. I would watch the channel in Arabic, where the content is much more harmful and venomous, in contrast to the English version of the channel which was more moderate.

"A secret relationship that developed and matured into an agreement." Dubai // Photo: AFP 

"In my role I was with the Prime Minister almost every week. When we started working, this whole issue was new. Not all decision makers knew the subtleties of things - what is Abu Dhabi, Dubai. I remember myself explaining to decision makers where these places are on the map, I explained. "People have the difference between the different principalities. God forbid it will not be heard that I say this as a critique of anyone, just at the time everything was new and unfamiliar." 

How did you decide which countries to focus on? 

"Geography has done its thing - these are countries bordering Iran, so the focus was on Sunni countries that surround Iran. We literally went from country to country, that's how we did it. Then, later on, suddenly you have a contact in a certain country, and you ask him to arrange a meeting and travel "The construction process is very similar to the business arena. You meet a lot of people, most of them are irrelevant, until sometimes there is something that grows and develops."

In this process the year 2005 is quite a significant milestone.

"This year, late 2005 early 2006, I had the privilege of flying to the UAE. It was the first senior official from the institution to fly and meet their leader. From there a secret relationship began, with our people constantly on the line, in various and impressive collaborations, at high intensity. This is a graph that started with "small partners, rising and rising, to the peak we saw in the last agreement." 

It is important to note that there were visits before your visit in 2005.

"Occasionally there were random performances of figures who met there with senior officials. But it is important to note, the UAE did not see these sporadic performances as significant. Both because these performances were not part of a continuous process and also because they, for their part, see the institution as the official body they speak to. In this unofficial situation. " 

So as a division head you had six years of intensive work in building and maintaining the relationship.

"True. And in the second part of my life, for another seven years so far, I have actually built a very large business infrastructure, in what has been one of the anchors of economic peace with them. Peace does not appear one morning, it is a process that has been built slowly."

After the agreement did they contact you from the UAE?

"This week one of the top executives at the WhatsApp leadership sent me an English name, which in free translation says 'You started it, bro'."

Let's go back to your first time there. What do you remember from the first meeting with Muhammad bin Zayed?

"The meeting was with him and his brothers. We usually meet in one of the ruler's palaces, in a very large living room. Sitting in armchairs, relaxed atmosphere, with very high quality and minimalist refreshments. The conversations in this class are very polite, talk about the situation. Arabs have a tendency to rotate, repeat On the same subject over and over again. They are very polite. Increasing voice is perceived as rudeness. Speaking with hands in pockets is perceived as arrogance. And they are very reliable. When they have closed something with you, you trust it. The encounter of Israelis with them will be fascinating.

Agreement in a month? Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman // Photo: Reuters

"When Dagan joined we spoke English, in my meetings we spoke mostly Arabic, and also some English. The conversation in the living room is not the class for serious conversations. Only then do you move to a closed room in a two-person forum on each side. Things close and decisions are made. It is important to say that you do not meet regularly. "The ruler, but senior officials. There is a continuous routine of meetings. A big part of the work is to invent content and bring it to the table, to innovate. That's how you hold and build a relationship."

Are you impressed with Muhammad bin Zayed?

"Absolutely. I think the great thing the ruler has managed to do there is to make all his people partners in wealth. The citizens adore the leadership, there is a very great connection of the people to the leadership and vice versa. Health is free, and education is free - from university to university. Everything. Moreover, a young couple getting married there gets free land. I think the most noticeable thing for Israelis is the high level of people on the other side. The best university graduates there are with the highest level of English. In WhatsApp, the profile pictures of a very wide section of the population are with the leader. They are very proud of him. "

"The annexation preyed on the cards"

What now caused the change that led to the current agreement?

"Muhammad bin Zayd made a decision that he was taking a step forward with Israel, contrary to what he had said for many years. The union used to say that peace is not possible in terms of the Arab ethos, that is, as long as Israel did not advance with the Palestinians. And about a year ago there seemed to be progress."

Then came the annexation.

"I think the annexation, as you say, preyed on the cards. They put in a goat, as they say, and in order to get it out they were ready in the UAE for the current move.

In this matter each party has its own terminology. 

"The word 'pause' is used. In Arabic they say 'everyone and their song'. I think there is a consensus on one thing - there is no annexation at the moment. Later we do not know what will happen."

What about the nature of the agreement? Here they say normalization, here they say peace agreement. What exactly is it?

"After they are signed, it is a peace agreement for everything. Normalization has been all the time, and now it is getting official framing. This creates a dynamic of arrangements, that more countries will come; and it does not matter who will be first and second. Saudi Arabia is important - it is big and central. "I will be among the first two. I assume the first will be Bahrain, Oman, then Saudi Arabia and then Kuwait. In between, he will probably be surprised by another Arab country."

With Saudi Arabia is it possible to have an outline for an agreement within days?

"Muhammad bin Salman is not the most expected person. I am sure the latest move is coordinated with him and made with his consent. He has to make a decision on the timing that suits him. But it can also take a month and there will be an agreement. I will not fall off the chair if that happens. "It doesn't matter if it takes two or three weeks, it will happen. I think that's a pretty reasonable scenario."

Palestinians protest against annexation // Photo: EPI

Is the current agreement really as important as the agreement with Jordan and Egypt? Overall we had a peaceful relationship with the Emirates.

”It is different. With Egypt we had four hard wars, tens of thousands killed on both sides, many prisoners, occupied territories, lots of bad blood. So when an Egyptian leader comes and says 'so far', it's a huge thing. "Sadat shattered the paradigm, and later, King Hussein also gained courage."

So the difference may be that the UAE is one of the richest and most advanced countries in the world. This has a different meaning.

"The importance is that it is a country that will integrate very well into the Israeli economy. It is a country that loves technology and entrepreneurship, and Israel is very suitable for it. The economic momentum that will come from the UAE is more than the momentum that came from Egypt. "The emirates do billions of dollars. The United Arab Emirates is a country with economic reserves of about $ 2 trillion. If they start investing, buying - the volume of trade will increase."

The series of reports stated that the agreement with the United Arab Emirates could undermine the US's historic commitment to maintain Israel's military advantage in the region. Is Israel's relative advantage in the region likely to be harmed?

"Absolutely not. "There are all kinds of agreements on security issues, but I do not see the UAE as an enemy."

Iran on the road to moderation?

Let's talk about Iran. What might the agreement do to the Israeli intelligence we have about Iran, and how relevant is it in the days when the UN Security Council rejected the decision to extend the arms embargo on the Islamic Republic?

”In this axis the change will not be great. "There are common interests between the two countries in the face of the common Iranian threat."

This is about the creation of an axis in front of the Islamic Republic. Indeed? And what could the agreement do to Iran's nuclear aspirations over the years?

"The Iranians know that the countries have an identity of interests and secret ties that go on for many years. They were not surprised when they heard about the agreement, and of course it is not good news for them. The Iranians see the Arabs starting to join Israel, which is getting stronger, "When the leader changes and someone less radical than him rises, a situation can arise that will take place in a country that has turned to moderation." 

Do you see such indications today?

"Even when I was in office, I saw that Iran is not one mainstream. As one who has seen many Iranians alive, within society there are whispering coals, multidirectional currents. Young people in Tehran make other voices. They are technological people, who want to be connected to the West, and some are interested in less religious life. ".

The people adore him. Muhammad bin Zayed // Photo: AFP

How much does the UAE fear Iran?

"As far as the UAE is concerned, Iran is a great historical enemy. The Iranians see the Gulf flourishing, and say 'what's going on here?' And the bays are troubled by the fact that the big neighbor across the bay is staring at them. That's why they need a strong army, etc ... "

How will the Israeli entry into Dubai cope with the fact that there are citizens who come there from Tehran? We also hear about the influx of young people from Beirut to Dubai following the disaster in Lebanon. Doesn't that put Israelis at risk?

"Absolutely not. It's a pretty safe and secure country, with strong police and efficient security services. Could there be a situation where at some point someone would do something to harm harmony? Could be. On the other hand, it's not Tripoli or Beirut."

"Abu Mazen towards the end"

Palestinian Muhammad Dahlan, who was one of the leaders of the Gaza Strip's preventive security and one of the leaders of the Fatah movement, is now the chief adviser to the ruler of the principalities. Is the current agreement also to some extent his coronation mark?

"This is a good question. As for the UAE, they were happy for him to control the authority. Americans also prefer it. I do not know what his chances are in the Palestinian arena. He is a strongman who left under not the most flattering circumstances for a leader. In the West Bank I do not think he has a strong grip. What can be said is that Abu Mazen looks towards the end. "

Does Israel also have an interest in Dahlan being there?

"If you ask me, I think Dahlan can make a deal. Does Israel want a deal with the Palestinians, that is another question. On the timeline, the Palestinians will understand that there is a story here that can not be left indifferent. In the current process, whether intended or not - the State of Israel Advance a process with the Palestinians. "



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