This piece presents a critical perspective on Israel’s actions and policies, backed by extensive research and specific examples. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a highly contentious topic with strongly held views on all sides.
The conflict is complex and sensitive, without easy solutions. Israel, like all nations, has legitimate security concerns in a world often characterized as “wolves vs sheep.” Both Israelis and Palestinians have suffered greatly throughout this long-standing conflict. Most experts agree that a peaceful, negotiated solution addressing the rights and security of all people in the region is necessary, requiring good faith efforts from all sides to de-escalate violence, address grievances, and work towards coexistence.
Golda Meir’s famous quote about peace coming, “when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us [Israel],” has been criticized for demonizing Palestinians. However, the Palestinian cause was also hampered by poor leadership, particularly under Yasser Arafat.
Arafat, as leader of the PLO and later the Palestinian Authority, was a central yet controversial figure in the Palestinian national movement. His role in the Oslo Accords was seen as a step toward peace but ultimately failed to achieve a lasting resolution. Arafat’s leadership was marked by corruption, involvement in terrorism, and rejection of peace offers. His tenure saw limited improvements in Palestinian lives, with the goal of an independent Palestinian state unrealized at his death in 2004. Financial investigations revealed significant misappropriation of funds under Arafat’s leadership, with estimates of his personal wealth ranging from $300 million to $3 billion.
The aftermath of Arafat’s leadership has left Palestinians in a worse condition. His approach often prioritized conflict and terrorism over cooperation, contrasting with Egypt’s path to peace with Israel. The Arab countries that have made peace agreements or normalized relations with Israel include Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, establishing full diplomatic relations. Jordan followed suit in 1994, also signing a peace treaty and establishing diplomatic and economic ties. More recently, in 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan all normalized their relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords. While these developments represent progress, the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved, with many other Arab states still opposing Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and the lack of a comprehensive peace agreement that satisfies the rights and security of both sides. Moving forward, it would be beneficial for Arab countries, Iran, and other Muslim countries to accept Israel’s existence and work towards peaceful settlements, abandoning rhetoric of hate. This approach could pave the way for a more stable and prosperous future for all in the region.
