In historic first, Judea and Samaria leaders visit UAE

(JNS) — A group of Judea and Samaria leaders made history last week by visiting Abu Dhabi on the first-ever organized trip by the Yesha Council to a Muslim country, the umbrella organization announced Thursday.

Yesha Council chief Israel Ganz and CEO Omer Rahamim, as well as Hebron Hills Regional Council head Eliram Azulay, returned on Wednesday from their first visit to the United Arab Emirates. They were accompanied by Rabbi Matanya Yedid, who heads the Sifra Institute.

During the visit, the three met government officials, business leaders, influencers and the Jewish state’s envoy to the country, Yossi Shelley. The Yesha Council representatives were said to have engaged in “direct discussions about economic and political opportunities in the region.”

The Judea and Samaria delegation was also invited to a traditional Iftar meal to break the Ramadan fast at the residence of Ali Rashid al-Nuaimi, a member of the Emirati Federal National Council and chairman of its committee on defense, interior and foreign affairs, the council stated.

“Our visit to the UAE is proof of the regional shift and the need for fresh thinking,” Ganz declared. “A new world order requires new alliances and out-of-the-box thinking. Cooperation between nations, based on mutual respect and recognition of reality, is the key to strengthening our communities and securing a strong future for both countries.”

He added, “We thank Dr. Ali Rashid al-Nuaimi for his warm and personal invitation, as well as all our hosts for their gracious hospitality and open, important discussions. This is a first step toward fruitful collaborations that will benefit the entire region.”

Azulay said it was “incredible to see that there are courageous leaders who want to hear firsthand about our communities, towns and the development of Judea and Samaria.”

“I met leaders who share our fight against Hamas, Hezbollah, the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran, including their civilian arms operating in Judea and Samaria,” the Hebron Hills Regional Council head said.

“These leaders are not afraid to say openly that we must combat the Palestinian Authority’s education system, which promotes evil and hatred of Jews. The direct connection established between our communities and senior figures in the UAE opens new opportunities for implementing the Abraham Accords in Judea and Samaria,” he added.

As of Jan. 1, 2025, 529,704 Israelis live in Judea and Samaria, amounting to approximately 5.28 percent of the entire population of the Jewish state.

Fifty-eight percent of Israeli Jews believe that communities in Judea and Samaria contribute to the security of the entire country, according to a poll published by the Jewish People Policy Institute last week.