World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder’s article, “A quiet revolution is changing the Middle East,” first published in the Arab News on May 15, 2020, has been republished or reported on in at least two major Arab media outlets. In this article, President Lauder expressed optimism regarding the prospects for improved Muslim-Jewish relations.
An Arabic translation was featured in the highly influential Al-Masry Al-Youm, or Egypt Today, which has some of the highest circulation numbers in Egypt.
President Lauder’s commentary was reported on in the Moroccan-based Arabic news site, Kifache on May 20, 2020. This story paraphrases what President Lauder wrote and notes that he recognizes the significant step that the production and airing of the Umm Haron television represents in the rapprochement between the Gulf states and the Jewish world.
The publication of President Lauder’s piece was an unprecedented development in Arab-Jewish relations, with an international Jewish leader featured for the first time on the frontpage of a leading Saudi newspaper.