Dr. Richard L. Benkin writes from USA

Most people like consider no nation—aside from the radical rejectionists like Iran and Syria—less likely to have any relations with Israel than Saudi Arabia.  After all, Saudi Arabia is considered the principle defender of the holiest sites in Islam, if not Islam itself.  It is an unapologetic theocracy with the Great Mosque of Mecca in its heart. Yet, even the Saudis are engaging in business relations with Israel, albeit quietly.

Even if recent rumors of a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Saudi princes turn out to be false—and that is far from certain—it is clear that there already commerce between the two nations.  Not only that, it is growing.  Sales of Israeli products in Saudi Arabia increased ten percent in the first half of 2006.  To be sure, the dollar value of Israeli commerce with Saudi Arabia is small compared with the economic might of the oil-rich kingdom or with Israel’s highly successful international trade.  The Israeli Manufacturer’s Association estimates that Israeli exports to Saudi Arabia totaled $470,000US during this period.  Yet, the fact that the Saudis are eagerly buying Israeli medical equipment, fertilizers, metal components and machines bodes well not only for the Israeli economy, but also for the incipient growth of productive relations between Israel and this very important Muslim nation.  A total of twelve Israeli companies now have commercial ties to the Saudi Kingdom, up from eight in 2004.
Saudi Arabia is not the only or even the most active Arab nation to trade with Israel.  In total, Israeli exports to Arab countries rose by just under one third in 2005.  Their total value that year was $245,000,000US.  Israeli imports from Arab countries was valued at $233,000,000US in 2005.  Egypt—the nation that led three wars against the Jewish State-is now Israel’s biggest Arab business partner.  Egyptian import of Israeli products more than doubled in 2005, most extensively in the area of chemical products and their derivatives.

Israel also has entered the Iraqi market, exporting over $5,700,000US worth of goods to that nation in 2005.  Morocco has long had quiet relations with Israel. An amazing 46 separate Israeli companies did business with Morocco in the first half of 2006, increasing their trade with the Maghreb state by almost a quarter.  Although Israeli business with fellow North African state fell during the same period, it still exceeds the Saudi total in dollars.

Quite a few other Arab and Muslim nations and territories do business with Israel.  The Jewish state has trade offices in most of the Gulf States, including the United Arab Emirates.  Israeli businessmen have been active in Pakistan for at least a decade before the famous Pakistan-Israel meeting of 2005.  Earlier this year, there was an Israeli business delegation in Indonesia, and there are business contacts between Israel and Indonesia.  The Muslim states of the former Soviet Union have a very active trade with Israel.  Finally, few people realize that despite the Hamas victory, the Palestinian Arab territories represent Israel’s second largest trading partner?

Israel has some of the most advanced products in the world—in medical technology and skills, in agricultural technology, in security, chemicals, weather control, and many others that could help the people of Bangladesh.  Given the fact that almost every other Muslim state is carrying on an active trade with Israel, why is the Bangladesh government willing to remain in the camp of the most radical Arab and Muslim states while depriving its people at the same time?