At a time when millions of Arabs and Palestinians are shocked by the ongoing crisis, statements from Arab officials and influential figures have emerged, expressing a desire to normalise relations with Israel in exchange for establishing a Palestinian state.
These remarks came immediately after the ceasefire, following 471 days of war and destruction in Gaza, where over 170,000 Palestinians were killed, wounded, or remain missing — 70 per cent of them women and children. The war also devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, reducing hospitals, schools, mosques and other essential institutions to rubble.
If these statements were meant to encourage Israel and the United States to halt the war, it must be noted that this is not a new approach. On March 28, 2002, the Arab League unanimously adopted the Saudi peace initiative at the Beirut Summit, aiming to end the Arab-Israeli conflict. Proposed by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the initiative emphasised that a just and comprehensive peace was the strategic choice for Arab nations.
It called for Israel’s complete withdrawal from territories occupied since 1967 in line with UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, as well as the principles of the 1991 Madrid Conference. It also proposed the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in exchange for normalised relations between Arab countries and Israel. Additionally, it sought a just solution to the Palestinian refugee crisis, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194.
Under this initiative, the Arab-Israeli conflict would have been resolved through a peace agreement ensuring security for all regional states and establishing normal relations with Israel. However, despite repeated endorsements in Arab summits and ministerial meetings over the years, no Israeli prime minister has accepted the initiative. The United States, despite being the primary mediator of Israeli-Arab relations, has not pressured Israel to comply with the proposal.
Given this history, it is important to ask: what have the Arab nations that normalised ties with Israel actually gained? The reality suggests they have gained nothing significant, apart from creating a divide between their governments and their people. Israel, for its part, has not shown any genuine consideration towards these countries. Instead, it has dealt with them with arrogance, disregarding their concerns and agreements.
Looking at past peace efforts, the Oslo Accords of 1993 serve as an example. Signed in Washington under the supervision of US President Bill Clinton, the agreement marked a commitment by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to Israel’s right to exist in peace. It was meant to resolve key issues through negotiations, leading to an era free from violence. In response, Israel recognised the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people. However, more than 30 years later, Israeli policies suggest otherwise.
According to the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, the number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank has risen to approximately 770,000, spread across 180 settlements and 256 outposts. While settlements receive official government approval, outposts are built by settlers without formal endorsement but without opposition either. The region is now fragmented by nearly 900 Israeli checkpoints, clearly indicating that Israel has no intention of allowing an independent Palestinian state or a two-state solution.
Fundamentally, the Zionist ideology does not recognise Palestinians’ right to exist, let alone the possibility of a Palestinian state. With the unwavering support of the United States, Israel continues to receive military, intelligence and financial aid, even at the cost of America’s global reputation regarding international law and human rights. This was evident during the Biden administration, which provided unprecedented support to Israel during the Gaza war, with direct backing from several Western governments.
This trend is expected to continue, particularly under the potential return of a Trump administration, where staunch supporters of Israel are prominent figures in policymaking.
It is time for Arab nations to stop offering concessions to an entity that lacks principles, morality, or any genuine desire for peaceful coexistence. Instead of shifting responsibility to the so-called international community, they must take ownership of their national security and prioritise their primary cause — the Palestinian struggle. They must recognise that Israel only responds to strength, a reality demonstrated by Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements.
History will not be kind to those who fail to act. Arab leaders possess the resources — military, economic and demographic — to challenge the status quo.
More importantly, their Islamic duty demands that they stand against the oppression of their Palestinian brethren. If they continue on their current path of weakness and inaction, they will be remembered with shame by future generations, as they allow external forces to dictate the region’s future according to Israeli and Western interests.
Translated by Badr al Dhafari
The original version of this article was published in Arabic in the print edition of Oman newspaper on February 06, 2025.
The writer is a specialist in international law and political affairs
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