Israel is driving a revival of Arab solidarity
Arab solidarity has been an elusive ideal over the past century, frequently invoked but rarely actualized. The Arab world has long been fractured by internal rivalries, divergent political alignments and regional conflicts.
However, recent developments suggest a resurgence of Arab unity, driven not by a shared pan-Arab vision but by a common external challenge: Israel. In a striking historical parallel, the country that once divided the Arabs is now, through its policies and actions, bringing them together.
Arab solidarity once dominated regional politics, reaching its peak in the 1950s and 1960s under leaders like Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, who championed unity against colonialism and Zionism. However, fractures emerged, culminating in Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s November 1977 visit to Jerusalem, which shattered the Arab consensus.
Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi convened an emergency Arab League summit the following month, wherein Algeria, Syria, Iraq, South Yemen and the Palestinian Liberation Organization formed the “Front of Steadfastness and Confrontation” to pressure Egypt. Instead, Egypt severed ties. Just 10 days later, Time magazine declared “Goodbye, Arab Solidarity,” marking the apparent collapse of a unified Arab front.
For decades after, the Palestinian cause lost its unifying force as Arab states prioritized national interests. The 1993 Oslo Accords and the 1994 Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty sidelined collective Arab strategy. The 2020 Abraham Accords expedited this trend, deepening divisions within the Arab world regarding engagement with Israel.
Yet the Palestinian issue never faded. Today, a new Arab solidarity is rising — not for war, but to counter Israeli policies that threaten regional stability, signaling a decisive shift in the Arab world’s strategic calculus.
The war in Gaza has proven to be a turning point. After more than a year of brutal conflict and over 46,000 casualties in Gaza, President Trump shocked the world with his vision for the strip’s future. Standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Feb. 4, Trump proposed that Gaza be “transformed into the Riviera of the Middle East” and hinted at the forced displacement of its 2 million residents into Egypt and Jordan. This proposal was met with immediate alarm across the Arab world.
At Trump’s invitation, King Abdullah II of Jordan traveled to Washington on Feb. 11 with hopes that Trump would reconsider his proposal, while Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who was scheduled to visit the White House a week later, canceled his trip — an unmistakable diplomatic rebuke.
Recognizing the urgency of unified action, Arab leaders convened in Riyadh on Feb. 21 to strategize a response. The outcome was a decisive rejection of the Trump Gaza plan. The Arab League officially presented their counter-proposal at the Arab League summit in Cairo on March 4.
The Arab League’s proposition was clear: Hamas would have no role in governing Gaza, thus meeting a key Israeli and American demand, and satisfying Arab states’ preference as well. However, contrary to Trump’s vision of U.S. control over the strip, the Egyptian plan emphasized Palestinian self-determination. Egypt spearheaded a $53 billion Gaza Reconstruction Plan, featuring a five-year timeline for rebuilding; an initial six-month phase focused on debris removal and temporary housing; a two-phase housing project totaling 400,000 units; and the construction of an industrial zone, fishing port, commercial port and a new Gaza airport.
The Arab states are united to rebuild Gaza and reclaim ownership of the Palestinian issue, ensuring that a revitalized Palestinian Authority is in control. Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf states secured broad regional and European support, as EU President António Costa backed the initiative. Even though the U.S. and Israel rejected the plan the very next day, Arab leaders see this as an opportunity to reassert regional leadership and prevent outside powers from dictating Gaza’s future.
Arab solidarity is also resurging in regards to Syria. Since the Assad regime’s fall, Israel has bombed Syrian territory, with reports suggesting Netanyahu’s government may expand military operations there. Justifying its actions as security measures, Israel cites concerns over Syria’s Druze minority, particularly after clashes between the transitional government and Druze factions in Jarmana.
However, Druze leaders in Lebanon and Syria have rejected Israeli intervention. Walid Jumblatt, a Lebanese Druze leader, condemned Israel’s actions, accusing Netanyahu of exploiting the Druze. On March 1, Syrian Druze leaders met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, rejecting external conflict.
The Arab world, wary of Israel’s strategic moves, has responded with a unified front. Arab League representatives, including key Gulf states and even Turkey, have explicitly backed Syria’s sovereignty and warned against foreign military interventions.
Moreover, the March 10 agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led militias known as the Syrian Democratic Forces into state institutions marks a huge shift, reinforcing Damascus’s authority. As crises like the violence in Alawite areas escalate, stabilizing Syria and countering foreign influence becomes urgent.
Arab solidarity, long weakened by competing national interests, is undergoing a decisive revival. The Arab League’s unified stance on Gaza’s reconstruction and Syria’s sovereignty marks a shift from rhetoric to action. Though internal divisions persist, this newfound cohesion signals a departure from fragmentation.
Ironically, Israel — once the greatest divider — is now catalyzing Arab unity. The League’s assertive coordination suggests a resilient Arab voice, challenging past assumptions. If institutionalized, this momentum could transform cooperation from an aspiration into a geopolitical reality, ushering in an era where Arab states collectively defend their core interests with newfound resolve and strategic alignment.
Abdullah Hayek is a contributor with Young Voices and an independent Middle East analyst and consultant based in Washington, D.C.
-
Trump must tread lightly with Arab leaders in peace talks
If the primary goal of the Trump administration is to quickly address issues in the Middle East and prevent further wars and instability, placing additional pressure on Arab countries might ...The Hill - Mar. 11 -
Why the Arabic ‘Sesame Street’ and Other Cuts Are Not Really About Fraud
As President Trump and Elon Musk cut federal programs, they often equate political and policy differences with corruption.The New York Times - 2d -
Europe, stronger together
With wise policy, rearmament can for once be a source of unity rather than divisionFinancial Times - 5d -
Opus Major raises $10M to bring people together through music and games
Opus Major has raised $10 million in funding to build a global game studio dedicated to crafting games and entertainment.VentureBeat - 6d -
Israel launches wave of strikes across Gaza Strip, killing hundreds
Israel launched a wave of deadly strikes on Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, according to local health officials, seemingly bringing the fragile ceasefire to a halt. The attack, ...The Hill - 17h -
European leaders back 'realistic' Arab plan for Gaza
The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and Britain welcomed the plan, which calls for Gaza to be rebuilt over five years.BBC News - Mar. 8 -
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows – a historic frolic through feudal Japan
PlayStation 5 (version played), Xbox, PC; Ubisoft Ubisoft’s historical fiction series returns with its best adventure in years. Japan, 1581: Iga province is burning down around you. You watch on, ...The Guardian - 12h -
33-year-old's side hustle once made just $2 an hour—now it's a business bringing in $369,000 a month
Penny Linn Designs CEO Krista LeRay turned her barely profitable side hustle into a business that brings in millions in annual revenue. Here's how she did it.CNBC - 3d -
Israel Resumes Attacks in Gaza After Stalled Cease-Fire Talks with Hamas
While the Israeli government has stopped short of a ground invasion for now, its new strikes in Gaza seem to be an effort to force concessions from Hamas.The New York Times - 10h
More from The Hill
-
Sanders: Roberts knows ‘the danger of a president' who doesn't 'respect the Constitution'
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Tuesday that he believes Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts knows “the danger of a president” who doesn’t “respect the Constitution” after pushback from ...The Hill - 1h -
Voters boo Nebraska Republican over Musk, Ukraine, Trump tariffs during raucous town hall
Rep. Mike Flood’s (R-Neb.) town hall turned raucous Tuesday night as he fielded questions from voters about Elon Musk, President Trump’s tariffs, the White House’s posture towards Ukraine and more, ...The Hill - 2h -
Deadline approaches for claiming $1,400 stimulus check from 2021
The deadline is approaching for the more than 1.1 million Americans who have yet to claim their $1,400 stimulus check from the pandemic-era relief. The deadline to claim a stimulus check is April ...The Hill - 3h -
Officials detain immigration activist who sheltered in church in 2017
Jeanette Vizguerra, a Colorado advocate for immigrants who sheltered in a church for months in 2017, was detained by officials on Monday, local advocates said. The Colorado Immigrant Rights ...The Hill - 4h -
Starliner astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore return to Earth after 9 months in space
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore made splashdown on Earth on Tuesday after spending nine months in space. A SpaceX crew with replacements for the two astronauts arrived at the ...The Hill - 4h
More in Politics
-
Sanders: Roberts knows ‘the danger of a president' who doesn't 'respect the Constitution'
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Tuesday that he believes Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts knows “the danger of a president” who doesn’t “respect the Constitution” after pushback from ...The Hill - 1h -
Voters boo Nebraska Republican over Musk, Ukraine, Trump tariffs during raucous town hall
Rep. Mike Flood’s (R-Neb.) town hall turned raucous Tuesday night as he fielded questions from voters about Elon Musk, President Trump’s tariffs, the White House’s posture towards Ukraine and more, ...The Hill - 2h -
Federal judge blocks Trump transgender military ban
A federal judge has blocked President Trump's executive order which would prevent transgender people from serving in the military.NBC News - 2h -
Family members of migrants deported to El Salvador mega prison speak out
Family members who suspect their loved ones were sent to El Salvador's mega prison fear they are wrongly being accused of being members of a Venezuelan gang. NBC News' Julia Ainsley has the details ...NBC News - 2h -
Deadline approaches for claiming $1,400 stimulus check from 2021
The deadline is approaching for the more than 1.1 million Americans who have yet to claim their $1,400 stimulus check from the pandemic-era relief. The deadline to claim a stimulus check is April ...The Hill - 3h