GCC, Turkey and Israel, are the only places in the ME that are stable, modern, successful and safe. We should really work together and solve ME's problems. Though, I highly doubt that this news is accurate, I truly hop that it happens.
It's hard to disagree with that notion. The problem is practical implementation. The political maturity level in the ME is nowhere near that found in Europe and the West as a whole. There is a serious lack of genuine cooperation and solidarity with few exceptions.
There are a lot of reasons why relations with Israel would be a good thing.
We are neighbors, cousins, 21% of Israel's population is Arab, over 50% of all Israeli Jews have full or partial ancestral ties to the Arab world, Yemen being a major "exporter", Israel is a highly developed country in terms of technology and science (something that every Muslim country could learn from - not only Muslim) and we will always be neighbors. If we want to move this region forward that we consider as our home we need to cooperate for the betterment of the region as a whole.
Personally, although I have lost a lot of hope in Muslim brotherhood, cooperation, solidarity, the future of the region as a whole (too much hatred, backwardness etc.) I still would love to see a peaceful ME and that includes peace between Israelis and Palestinians but that conflict is not a conflict that directly involves us. Arabs or non-Arabs. It's a Israeli-Palestinian affair and only those two can make it work or not.
The hardest part will be to look at Israel in another light. Since 1948 wanting relations with Israel has been equal to being a traitor in the Arab and Muslim world.
Although people in the GCC have a more neutral or even at times favorable opinion of Israel than most Muslim countries or at least a lot of them, it's still largely negative due to the Palestinian question.
On a personal level though I am sure that we have more in common with Israelis than many non-Arab Muslim peoples and nations. That should be evident IMO.
The fact that we both live in the richest areas of the MENA region and that our people can buy the same products that most of the Muslim world cannot afford on average, travel to many of the same destinations, that our students study abroad in the same nations on a large scale and that we engage in many of the same activities minus aspects that involve alcohol, at least for most of us, lol, is also a factor that would make us closer compared to say the average Malian, Afghani, Uzbek, Mauritanian etc.
I have personally never had a problem with Jews or a negative view of them. My sole criticism has been aimed at certain Israeli politics. In reality I think that most people in the GCC feel this way. Especially if they made some research beforehand.
Anyway at the end of the day it's all about the interests of nation states and if people to people relations can improve this way then that's good.
P.S.: I have several Jewish friends (of all backgrounds) and we can even discuss politics in a civil manner without any trouble whatsoever. We are similar on many ways believe it or not. Arabs and Jews that it but we won't admit it.
There is a lot of hatred right now between Israelis and Palestinians but the average Israeli and Jew should know that there are millions of Arabs out there who are not out there to kill you and who actually would welcome peace and cooperation as neighbors and cousins which we like to joke about mutually or annoy each other with. Let the sons of Prophet Ibrahim (as) join hands and make our ancient region a shinning star again. The future lies in our hands. Hate or cooperation. It's our choice.
