Abraham Accords: UAE student and Israeli family forge lifelong friendship


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

An Emirati student said peace and building genuine relationships are part of his goals while studying in Israel.

Mansoor Al Marzooqi became the first student from the UAE to join an Israeli college this year and said he had gained both knowledge and friendship.

To achieve peace, there must be family relationships between people
Mansoor Al Marzooqi

“The most important factor in achieving peace is people-to-people connections,” the 19-year-old said.

“It’s about brotherhood between one culture and another. To achieve peace, there must be family relationships between people.”

The Emirati is back home in the UAE after completing a term at IDC Herzliya and will return to Israel in September to continue studies in political science.

“I focused a lot on doing well in the exams because I have a goal to work hard for the name of my country,” he said.

The course has been challenging, he said, as it covers history, philosophy and communication.

The UAE student has also met officials and been invited into the homes of students.

The UAE, Bahrain and Israel signed the Abraham Accords last year in Washington. This was followed by Morocco and Sudan agreeing to normalise ties with Israel.

The Accords have opened up co-operation in trade, investment, health and tourism.

“We are enjoying the fruit of the hard work done by the government. This harvest will benefit the country and ourselves,” Mr Al Marzooqi said.

“I have been invited for Shabbat dinners and joined in cultural activities. I’m not the last (Emirati) student, there will be more coming to Israel.”

His family has a close bond with entrepreneur Patrick Assuline after they watched over the Israeli when he was seriously ill with Covid-19 during a business trip to the Emirates earlier this year.

“After my really bad experience of Covid, my wish is to share my time with others and to be helpful to populations of both countries,” Mr Assuline said from Tel Aviv.

“Mansoor’s family is my family. I consider I was reborn in Dubai.”

Emirati Mansoor Al Marzooqi (L) with his father Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Israeli businessman Patrick Assuline and his son Dimitri in Dubai. Courtesy Al Marzooqi family.
Emirati Mansoor Al Marzooqi (L) with his father Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Israeli businessman Patrick Assuline and his son Dimitri in Dubai. Courtesy Al Marzooqi family.

Mr Assuline hopes to welcome more students from the UAE, Morocco and Bahrain to Israel in the next academic year and build a team of student ambassadors.

“It is my personal decision to be involved," he said. "We are grateful to the governments but now it is people who will build peace and create prosperity.

“Intellectual and cultural exchanges touch people. This stays deep in the mind of people.”

A year after the Abraham Accords were signed, he is optimistic about the future.

“I feel we are living in a magical and historical moment,” Mr Assuline said.

“What is important is for the young leaders of tomorrow to be friends. Mansoor has opened the door and history will remember it.

“It is needed for students to understand Israel and that they are warmly welcome here so they know Israel is a friend and brother."

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

The Orwell Prize for Political Writing

Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include: 

  • Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Updated: August 12, 2021, 8:24 AM`