For almost the entire history of political Zionism, Jewish leaders have sought peace with their Arab neighbours. This commitment dates to Theodor Herzl’s vision in his 1902 novel “Altneuland,” which depicted Jews and Arabs living together harmoniously in a future Jewish state.
Israel’s Declaration of Independence clearly states that Israel will extend a hand to all neighbouring states in the spirit of peace and good neighbourliness and seeks peace with the Arab inhabitants of the country. The original document signed May 14, 1948, specifically “appeal[s] to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship” despite being written during an ongoing invasion by five Arab armies.
After the Six Day War, Israel sought to use its territorial gains in a “land for peace” negotiation, which was promptly rejected by the Arab League. After Egypt launched its Yom Kippur War, Israel still welcomed a peace agreement with the Egyptians, which led to the Israel-Egypt peace agreement in 1979. In 1994, Israel made peace with Jordan, in the midst of its peace negotiations with the Palestinians via the Oslo peace process. These peace treaties required significant Israeli territorial concessions, including the return of the entire Sinai Peninsula to Egypt – an area three times the size of Israel itself and rich in natural resources.
Israel has always sought peace with its Arab neighbours. Whenever an Arab country has suggested a possibility of normalizing relations with Israel, Israel has jumped at the opportunity, most recently in 2020 with the Abraham Accords, which saw Israel establish diplomatic relations with countries like the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, and Sudan. The Abraham Accords have yielded substantial dividends, with bilateral trade between Israel and the UAE alone exceeding $2.5 billion in 2024, and numerous joint initiatives in water technology, clean energy, healthcare, and food security that benefit the entire region.
Golda Meir once quipped that, “If the Arab armies put down their weapons, there will be no more war. If Israel puts down its weapons, there will be no Israel.” Israel wants peace, both for its own sake, and for the region, and one can only hope that the momentum of the Abraham Accords will see Israel forge lasting diplomatic ties with even more Arab and Muslim-majority countries. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has continued to express willingness to negotiate peaceful resolutions, even while defending itself against attacks from multiple fronts – demonstrating that security concerns and peace aspirations are not mutually exclusive but rather interconnected priorities.
Sources
[1] “Altneuland,” Theodor Herzl, 1902.
[2] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Declaration of Independence,” 1948.
[3] Abraham Accords Peace Institute, “Economic Impact Report,” 2024.
[4] Israel Office of the Prime Minister, “Peace Initiatives and Security Policy,” 2024.