The Prime Minister's spokesman in Arabic referred to the atmosphere experienced by the Israeli delegation to the United Arab Emirates • "People waved goodbye to me enthusiastically, as if we were acquaintances"
Gandelman is interviewed by a local network
"The region is changing. We have seen the change in our eyes during the historic visit
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This is how Ofir Gandelman, the Prime Minister's spokesman for the Arab media, sums up the historic visit to the United Arab Emirates, in which he took part.
As someone who has worked with the Arab media for the past 20 years, even with hundreds of thousands of followers in the Arab world, Gandelman has no doubt that social networks have greatly contributed to the breakthrough with the United Arab Emirates.
"Without the networks, it probably would not have happened," he tells Israel Today about the historic LY972 flight from Abu Dhabi to Ben Gurion Airport.
Photo: Ariel Kahana
What happened to Arab public opinion?
"There is no doubt that social networks in the Arab world are much freer than the traditional media, which are committed to a particular government position," Gandelman explains.
"On social media you can see more authentic attitudes and identify moods."
So what is the connection between social networks and the result?
"In the Arab world, there is a huge interest in Israel, in contrast to the indifference that exists in Israel to what is happening in the Middle East. They want to know what we look like, and what we do and think."
Tell me about a personal moment where you experienced the power of networks.
"Here on a visit, as soon as we landed and got off the plane, I see people waving goodbye to me enthusiastically, as if they were my acquaintances. There were also people at the hotel who recognized me, even though I had never met them."
You mentioned that they want to know about us while we are not interested in them.
What do you think should happen?
"I think every Israeli should know Arabic and this is the most important profession in schools. Knowing the language is the key."