Israel's Landmark Visit to Qatar
February 13, 25
History will judge the visit by an Israeli delegation to a diamond conference in Qatar last month.
With all eyes on Gaza, Qatar mediating a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and the precarious on-off hostage release, we may be too close to the hour-by-hour developments to fully grasp its significance.
But for Nissim Zuaretz and Eran Zini (president and CEO respectively of the Israel Diamond Exchange, it felt like a tentative step towards Qatar following in the footsteps of the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan as signatories to the Abraham Accords.
They've returned from a three-day trip to the inaugural Doha International Diamond & Gem Conference with a message of hope and positivity.
"We hope that this historic moment will be the first step in the trade relations between the Israeli Diamond Exchange and Doha free trade zones in Qatar," Zuaretz told IDEX Online yesterday.
"I look forward to Israel and Qatar doing business together and making peace together in the Middle East."
It was the first time ever that senior Israeli economic representatives had attended an international diamond conference in Doha.
The pair received invitations in January, took advice from government officials and decided to accept.
"Israel is one of the biggest bourses in the world, so it's very important for Israel's industry for us to be there," said Zuaretz.
"All the leaders from all over the world were there, so we needed to be there."
Speakers at the event included Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman and CEO of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC); Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Botswana's minister of minerals and energy; Edward Asscher, vice president, Responsible Jewellery Council; Ronnie VanderLinden, president, International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) and Vipul Shah, chairman, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).
Zuaretz and Zini flew via Dubai on their Israeli passports (there are no diplomatic ties and no direct flights between Israel and Qatar).
They received a VIP welcome and were whisked straight from the plane to their hotel.
"They took care of us, they were very nice to us," said Zuaretz. "We were sitting with the minister of commerce and the minister of tourism and the security people there, and we felt very comfortable."
The conference was part of Qatar's charm offensive as it tries to secure itself a place on the world's diamond map.
It's planning to establish a diamond exchange, much like Dubai, as part of a free trade zone that will specialize in precious stones and gold.
Back in 2021 Israel voted in favor of Qatar's application to join the Kimberley Process.
There are currently no official trade links between the two countries, although goods are transferred via Dubai and other third parties.
But Zuaretz and Zini believe that's going to change. "In the future I think it's going to be official. Don't forget it's the first time someone from Israel went officially to Qatar for a diamond conference."
What message does that send? "I think something has changed for the future," said Zini. Trump has become the president of the United States and things are changing.
"It was really an historic moment when the DMCC executive chairman Mr Ahmed bin Sulayem greeted Mr Nissen Zuaretz, the president of the Israeli Diamond Exchange at the conference."
Zuartetz spoke of "a new Middle East". He said: "Trump is close to Qatar and he's close to Israel.
"I think there's going to be a peace first with Saudi Arabia, but I think Qatar is also going to be in the frame.
"The Qataris are business people. They know Hamas are not going to be there anymore and Iran is not strong. Israel and America are now the strongest countries."
The next step in the developing relationship could now be a return visit. "Our message from the conference is a message of hope," said Zini.
"We really hope that in the near future we can host the International Diamond Week in Israel and invite all our partners from all over the world, the formal ones and also the informal partners."
Have a fabulous weekend.