Israel in the Middle East 75 years on

Abstract

Israel’s relations with the Arab world underwent dramatic changes during its seventy-five years of existence–from hostility and enmity to peacemaking and reconciliation. This development is the result of the strengthening of Israel’s regional and international position on the one hand, and the weakening of the Arab world and the Arab states’ withdrawal into themselves in the face of the socioeconomic problems confronting them, on the other. And while the regional fear of Iran’s hegemonic drive has played an important role in the evolution of Israeli-Arab cooperation, the potential for consolidation of the nascent relationship goes well beyond the Iranian threat as both sides share weighty political, security and economic interests such as fighting radical Islam, promoting regional stability and security, and ensuring economic prosperity. Yet while the Palestinian issue didn’t prevent the consolidation of Arab-Israeli relations, it remains the lowest common denominator for Arab public opinion in its search for identity and meaning. As such, it will continue to threaten regional stability and the building of Israel’s relations with its Arab partners.