The Abraham Accords have been successful not only at a diplomatic level, but also in fostering coexistence between Israel and some Arab populations. The key word there: Some. The others apparently remain wholehearted enemies of the Jewish state.
In fact, a mere smile was enough to set off the Arab masses this week, when it appeared their leaders were getting a little too friendly with Israel President Isaac Herzog.
Herzog is in the Sinai Peninsula for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27), along with leaders from all over the world, including the Middle East.
On Monday, the leaders took a group photo, and Herzog was positioned near the leaders of Tunisia and Lebanon. If that wasn’t bad enough, Tunisian Prime Minister Najla Bouden was spotted not only conversing with Herzog, but actually smiling at the Israeli president!
حديث ضاحك بين رئيسة الوزراء التونسية نجلاء بودن والرئيس الإسرائيلي إسحاق هرتسوغ اثناء التقاط الصورة التذكارية لقادة العالم بمؤتمر المناخ في شرم الشيخ
القصة مش بس هون،القصة انو رئيس الحكومة اللبنانية نجيب ميقاتي مع مين عم يحكي ويضحك؟وشو حكي؟
وليه استدرك وقطع حكيو؟
شوفوا الفيديو pic.twitter.com/Lc4R25QYGp— Dr. Hakam Amhaz (@hakamamhaz) November 8, 2022
Arab social media erupted in outrage.
“That smile is sinful! I hope you didn’t invite him to visit Tunisia,” wailed a Lebanese journalist.
Far and wide concern was expressed that the brief friendly chat heralded the beginning of normalization between Israel and Tunisia. Many demanded that Tunisia President Kais Saied charge Bouden with treason.
We have reported in the past on how Kais Saied is the most antisemitic leader in the Arab world today, and has in the past deemed it treason for any Arab nation to make peace with the Jewish state.
But Bouden wasn’t the only Arab leader under fire.
The video clips and audio recordings of the photo-op also reveal that Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati engaged Herzog in a jovial manner.
“Why is Mikati talking to him [Herzog]? What did he say to him?” demanded a Lebanese journalist.
Some believed that the recent maritime agreement between Israel and Lebanon had marked the beginning of warmer relations. But given the reaction to Mikati doing little more than smiling in agreement with something Herzog said, it seems such optimism might be premature.
