THERE'S NOT MUCH NEWS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, BUT WE PUBLISH 365 DAYS A YEAR, SO I FOUND SOMETHING APPROPRIATE TO THE OCCASION.  IT'S ABOUT PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND A REMINDER OF WHAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS CONTRIBUTED.  HE WON'T BE GIVEN MUCH CREDIT, BUT HE KNOWS WHAT HE HAS DONE.  AT 11:55 P.M. ET:    FROM JNS: 

/ JNS) Israel welcomed a delegation of leaders and activists from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates earlier this month, following the success of the Abraham Accords that have normalized relations between Gulf and Muslim countries with Israel.

Under the auspices of a newly established organization named Sharaka (Arabic for “cooperation” or “partnership”), which “aims to lead social initiatives that bring Israel’s voice to strengthen familiarity with the State of Israel in the Arab world and create cooperation between young people in Israel and Arab states,” the group visited historical and cultural sites in Israel and meet with Israeli activists and leaders.

The partnership was born after Israelis visited the UAE and decided to jump-start a joint project that focuses on people-to-people encounters. Participating activists included professionals in academia, art, literature, politics, education, activism and the hospitality industry.

“We want a warm peace, where people will connect,” said Sharaka founder Amit Deri (who is also the founder and CEO of Reservists on Duty). “When leaders make a peace agreement, that’s one thing, but people-to-people connections are another. We want Emiratis to feel comfortable walking the streets of Tel Aviv in their traditional clothes, and Israelis want to feel comfortable walking the streets of Manama or Abu Dhabi with Israeli and Jewish symbols,” he told JNS.

As they lit candles at the Western Wall during Hanukkah, recalled Deri, “they felt like they were rock stars, with thousands cheering for them.”

Emirati delegation member Dr. Majid Al Sarrah, 37, told JNS that “it was a very spiritual and blessed moment, and we could feel the positivity all around us.”

COMMENT:  Read the rest.  With all his faults, Donald Trump has done great things.

December 31, 2020