By / Sam Nan

The Middle East has long been a stage for political and military tensions and conflicts. Israel, situated at the heart of this complex region, finds itself in conflict with its neighbors over political, religious, and geographic issues. Amid this violence and turmoil, it is essential to recognize that Israel seeks peace more than war. Despite the challenges, there are clear efforts from the Israeli side to move towards lasting peace with neighboring countries and the Palestinian people.
Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has been involved in repeated conflicts with its Arab neighbors, including the 1948 War, the 1967 War, the 1973 October War, and ongoing violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
However, it is important to note that Israel, while defending its right to exist and survive, has never sought war for war’s sake. It has always aimed to protect itself and ensure the safety of its people in the face of threats.
Israel has consistently shown a willingness to engage in negotiations for peaceful solutions. Numerous initiatives and agreements illustrate Israel’s pursuit of peace, including historic peace accords with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. These agreements demonstrate that peace is attainable.
The 1979 Camp David Accords with Egypt stand as a significant milestone in the Middle East peace process. Brokered by the United States, this agreement marked the first official Arab recognition of Israel as a legitimate state and was the result of both sides’ desire to end ongoing conflicts and secure a better future for their peoples. Israel made substantial concessions, including its complete withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula, showcasing its readiness to make compromises for peace.
Later, in 1994, Israel signed another peace treaty with Jordan, opening new avenues for political and economic cooperation between the two nations. These agreements reflect Israel’s desire to end wars and conflicts and create new chapters of peaceful coexistence.
In recent years, Israel has made further strides toward peace in the region, particularly through the 2020 “Abraham Accords,” which saw normalization agreements with several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. These agreements represent a significant shift in the positions of some Arab nations and demonstrate a growing desire to establish normal relations between Israel and its neighbors.
Through these accords, Israel seeks to promote regional stability, open economic opportunities, and collaborate in areas such as technology, health, and education. These steps are aimed at building a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East, proving that peace can offer more benefits than conflict.
Despite these successes in achieving peace with some nations, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains the most complex and influential in shaping the region’s peace trajectory.
However, even in this context, Israel’s repeated attempts to reach peaceful solutions with the Palestinians cannot be overlooked. From the Oslo Accords in the 1990s to various proposals for a two-state solution, Israel has consistently sought to resolve the conflict in a way that ensures stability for both peoples.
Challenges remain, including internal Palestinian divisions between Fatah and Hamas and continued mutual violence. Yet, the desire for peace remains a part of Israel’s political discourse. The Israeli government has repeatedly emphasized its need for a Palestinian partner that believes in peace and renounces violence as a means of achieving political goals.
While there are many obstacles to peace, such as the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the influence of regional and international powers, and hardline positions from some parties, hope remains that diplomacy and ongoing dialogue can yield positive results in the long term. Peace is not an easy goal, but it is a noble one worth striving for.
Israel, as a nation facing significant security and political challenges, has repeatedly shown that it does not desire war but seeks sustainable peace that ensures security and prosperity for all the peoples of the region.
Its long history of peace agreements and initiatives, from the treaties with Egypt and Jordan to the Abraham Accords, is evidence of its genuine desire for peaceful coexistence.
For Israel, peace is not just a strategic option but a crucial need to achieve stability and prosperity in the region.