Former Iraqi diplomat in Israel on Foreign Ministry visit

A former Iraqi diplomat arrived in Israel on Sunday for a visit that is set to include meetings with members of Knesset, Jews of Iraqi descent and religious leaders from the three Abrahamic faiths.

Hamad al-Sharifi arrived as a guest of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ynet reported. Tours of the Western Wall, the Knesset, the Supreme Court and Yad Vashem were also in store for the visiting diplomat.

Sharifi, 55, who was born into a Shiite family in Baghdad and lived in exile during the rule of Saddam Hussein, said he would one day like to serve as the Iraqi ambassador to Israel. Over the past decade, he has served as a diplomat at the Iraqi embassies in Jordan and Kuwait, and an adviser to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense.

“I would like to thank Hassan Kaabiah, deputy spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, who convinced me to visit to see the true Israel, which we have not seen on anti-Israeli television. One day, I hope that I will be the Iraqi ambassador to Israel and that Hassan will be the Israeli ambassador to Iraq,” Al-Sharifi was quoted by Ynet as saying before his visit.

“I consider myself a friend of Israel. At this time, Arabs need to understand that there is no conflict between Israel and Arab states, rather there is an Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I hope that it will end and peace will reign,” he added.

Sharifi works as a researcher in London and is chair of “The Liberal Muslims,” an organization that focuses on reforming Islamic jurisprudence.