Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum was one of the first local-politics figures in Israel to ride the normalization wave with the United Arab Emirates. Quickly after the August announcement by President Donald Trump on the normalization, she joined other Israelis and Emiratis in establishing the UAE-Israel Business Council. On Oct. 19, she went to Dubai and met with investors and decision-makers to advance the joint venture.

On Dec. 6, Hassan-Nahoum was part of yet another initiative, partnering the Heritage Center for Middle East and North Africa Jewry with the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum in Dubai. It was an especially moving moment for Hassan-Nahoum. She was born in London and grew up in Gibraltar, but both her parents are of Moroccan origin. "For the first time, we have pledged to focus on what unites Jews and Arabs and to turn the Middle East into a center of cooperation between peoples,’’ she posted on her Facebook page.

According to the memorandum of understanding, the two institutions seek to “highlight the positive historic relationship between Jews and Arabs, to better understand the culture of the other, to strengthen and highlight the contribution of both peoples to humanity” and to collaborate on projects to create more understanding of each other’s peoples.

Other Jews of Mizrahi origin (from Arab countries) also believe that common traditions and history can introduce deeper content and a real sense of sharing into the normalization agreements. Composer, songwriter and singer Avihu Medina, son of an immigrant from Yemen, is one of them. The master of Mediterranean Israeli music told Al-Monitor that the normalization deals with the Emirates and with Bahrain stand on their own merits, as the three countries share strong strategic, security and economic interests. Still, he said familiarity with the other country's culture and ways of thinking could certainly add extra layers to this burgeoning love affair.