For most of us, it was a most welcome surprise, a historic decisive step, namely the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

It buries the false notion that the lack of a final solution to the Palestinian Israeli conflict is the cause for instability in the Middle East. For some, it was even the greatest stumbling block in achieving universal peace.

It is now very clear that the confrontation between Shiite Iran and the Suni countries, usually represented by Saudi Arabia, is the time-bomb that can cause an earthquake in the region.

For Benjamin Netanyahu, it constitutes his greatest political accomplishment, the salient feature of his political legacy. It will gain the applause of most Israelis and the wrath of those in the right of the political spectrum because he had to promise not to integrate formally into the State of Israel parts of Judea and Samaria. It may put in danger his future electoral fortunes but will assure him a formidable place in the annals of the young State.

Elections are won by politicians, History recognizes statesmen.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of the role of the United States, of president Trump and his team, in propelling this understanding between the two countries and points to the probability of additional such relations between Israel and other nations of the region. It vindicates and validates the efforts of Jared Kushner who is the main architect of the government’s peace proposal for the region. To all those who questioned his selection for such a delicate and complex task, this is a solid accomplishment, unthinkable a couple of years ago.

This extraordinary step taken by UAE and Israel is a demonstration of political maturity that realistically puts aside old antagonisms and religious diversity that cannot be dismissed, and that should instead be integrated in a relationship of mutual respect of the differences.

This new relationship between Israel and the UAE has to serve as a building block for further alliances that will help to fulfill the dream of the late Shimon Peres who dreamt with the idea that Israel can serve as a locomotive por the technological and scientific progress of the entire area.

With the rapid development of new technologies and the distaste for fossil fuels, the countries of the region must insert themselves fully into acquiring knowledge and expertise in the new fields of cyber and AI, driverless automobiles, and other fields yet to be defined and identified. In addition, of course, to providing a cleaner environment for their population, proper and up to date health care and other vital services.

Israel can serve as a role model and a willing teacher-helper in all the above and initiate a new era of progress and peace for a region that is the cradle of monotheism, an area where some of the greatest cultural and social advances took place in the past.

I salute the leader of Israel and the leadership of the UAE, and above all their respective peoples for this historic step that will bring only progress and wellbeing to all.

*Ambassador of Venezuela to Israel