AN EXAMINATION OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT ON ISRAEL'S DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE MIDDLE EAST REGION

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study The conflict between Arabs and Israelis has persisted for over eight decades. Tensions between the relatively small Jewish population and the significantly larger Arab population in Palestine began to intensify during the final years of Ottoman rule. These tensions escalated following the 1917 Balfour Declaration, in which the British government expressed its support for the "establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people," and the creation of the British Mandate over Palestine in 1920. Over the next thirty years, confrontations intensified as both Arabs and Jews contested for rights and territorial control, ultimately leading to the 1947 United Nations decision to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. This decision led to armed conflict, culminating in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The military defeat of the Arab states, the establishment and territorial expansion of the State of Israel, and the failure to create a Palestinian Arab state contributed to the transformation of what was once a localized Arab-Jewish conflict into a broader Arab-Israeli struggle. Rane (2009) underscores that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict holds global significance, particularly in shaping the relationship between Western and Islamic worlds. The conflict continues to be a critical issue, undermining peace, security, and political stability throughout the Middle East (Baranovich & Moorthy, 2020; Okechukwu, 2018). Since the aftermath of World War II, it has impacted major regional developments, including efforts toward Arab unification and political cohesion within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The 1948 war is considered a landmark event that has deeply influenced the political narratives of Arab nations, particularly the GCC members, in relation to Israel. Despite multiple wars and failed peace initiatives since the 1947 UN General Assembly Resolution 181 (Amina, 2019), the Zionist movement appears to have systematically advanced its nationalist ambitions, resulting in what many critics describe as the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians (Pappé, 2019). For Palestinians, the quest to realize statehood remains a top national priority. For Israel, maintaining sovereignty and striving for regional leadership amidst Arab opposition reflects an ongoing struggle for state security and self-determination (Frimer, Maoz, & Ron, 2020). Although diplomatic relations between Israel and several GCC states have improved, the Israeli occupation and settlement activities in Palestinian territories since the 1967 war remain a contentious and unresolved issue. Rabi and Mueller (2017) argue that the GCC has been largely ineffective in supporting the Palestinian cause while gradually normalizing relations with Israel. This political ambiguity has caused internal divisions within the GCC, as some member states seek stronger ties with Israel, while others oppose normalization absent a collective consensus, particularly one aligned with the Arab Peace Initiative. The announcement of formal diplomatic relations between Israel and countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan—mediated by the United States—was unexpected and ignited a new wave of geopolitical debate. Tensions escalated further with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration of plans to annex an additional 30% of the West Bank, a move condemned as a serious threat to the Arab peace process (Eldar, 2020). In 2017, during the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, the United States officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and subsequently declared it the "undivided capital" of Israel (Selzer, 2020). This development was controversial, culminating in U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s declaration that Israeli settlements in the West Bank no longer violate international law. These pronouncements were widely criticized by international bodies. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that such annexation efforts would represent a grave violation of international law and severely compromise the viability of a two-state solution and future peace negotiations (Nichols, 2020). These actions have eroded hope for peace, even as the Trump administration promoted what it termed the “deal of the century,” spearheaded by Jared Kushner (Balf, 2020). From a geopolitical standpoint, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and developments within the Gulf region are increasingly intertwined. Gulf monarchies are both indirectly involved and significantly impacted by this protracted conflict. As Israel’s strategic interests grow in the region, especially concerning national security, it seeks stronger alliances, particularly with Saudi-led coalitions. Although Israel is now more deeply affected by the Gulf’s internal political shifts, Arab Gulf governments—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and the UAE—continue to view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a destabilizing force. Nonetheless, they prioritize the perceived threat from Iran as the foremost regional security concern. Given this dynamic, the researcher seeks to investigate how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to shape and influence Israel’s relations with the broader Middle East, particularly in light of evolving diplomatic ties, regional security calculations, and ideological divides. 1.2 Statement of the Problem The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a source of political and ideological instability for Arab Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Although these nations view Iran as a more pressing security threat, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine continues to shape their foreign policy choices (Eldar, 2020). The normalization of relations between certain GCC members and Israel has created divisions within the bloc and fueled perceptions of betrayal among Palestinians. This has complicated the realization of Palestinian national aspirations and introduced new challenges to regional unity. As noted by Rabi and Mueller (2017), the strategic recalibrations within the Gulf reflect the dual pressures of maintaining internal stability and responding to external security threats. Yet, the decision by some GCC states to formalize diplomatic ties with Israel—while the Palestinian issue remains unresolved—has caused significant backlash. The perception among Palestinians is one of abandonment, which undermines long-standing regional commitments to their cause. This research therefore explores the broader implications of the shifting political alignments between Israel and Middle Eastern states, focusing particularly on the impact of newly established diplomatic relations with Israel by the UAE and Bahrain. Additionally, it examines how internal GCC political dynamics interact with the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its influence on the region’s diplomatic posture. Hence, this study aims to critically assess the consequences of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis on Israel's relations with the Middle East. 1.3 Objective of the study The broad objective of the study is to examine the Implications of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict on Israel's Diplomatic Relations with the Middle East Region. The specific objectives is as follows i.Examine the factors responsible for the Israeli Palestinian crisis. ii.Find out the impact of israeli palestinian crisis on its relations with the middle east. iii.Assess the challenges in resolving the Israeli Palestinian crisis. 1.4 Research Questions The following questions have been prepared for the study i.What are the factors responsible for the Israeli Palestinian crisis? ii.What is the impact of israeli palestinian crisis on its relations with the middle east? iii.What are the challenges in resolving the Israeli Palestinian crisis? 1.5 Significance of the study The findings of the study will be significant to the international community as it will expose them on the need to look into the root cause of the Israeli and palestinians and proffer a long lasting solutions to the problem so as not to spread to the entire middle east. The findings of the study will be ignificant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature. 1.6 Scope of the study The study focuses on the Implications of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict on Israel's Diplomatic Relations with the Middle East Region. Hence, the study will examine the factors responsible for the Israeli Palestinian crisis, find out the impact of israeli palestinian crisis on its relations with the middle east and assess the challenges in resolving the Israeli Palestinian crisis. 1.7 Research Methodology Research methodology deals with the different ways or methods the researcher applied in order to carry out the research as well as the instrument used for gathering the data. There are several research methodologies appropriate for answering the research questions. The type of research methodology used in this research to gather data and relevant information is the historical research and the study will adopt descriptive method of data collection. This will involve the collection of materials from secondary sources, such as books, journal articles, magazines, internet sources, international and national conference proceedings, published and unpublished articles. 1.8 Definition of terms Crisis: a time of intense difficulty or danger.