For over a century — since Britain’s declaration of support for a Jewish national homeland in Palestine by Foreign Minister Arthur Balfour on November 2, 1917 — Palestine has remained at the core of Arab concerns. Following the Balfour Declaration, Britain, Western countries and the Zionist movement orchestrated the migration of hundreds of thousands of Jews from Eastern Europe and beyond into Palestine, altering its Arab demographic fabric.
This culminated in the establishment of the Zionist state, known as Israel, on May 14, 1948, immediately after the end of the British mandate over Palestine. This issue has long been central to the Arab world, with several Arab countries waging wars to reclaim Palestinian land and restore the rights of its people. It has been a cause deeply ingrained in the conscience of Arabs, symbolising justice for a people whose land was occupied and who faced killings and displacement as part of an international conspiracy.
Support for Palestine has not only come from Arabs but also from many nations and peoples worldwide who advocate for justice and peace. Yet, over time, the stance of the official Arab political system — first formalised with the founding of the Arab League on March 22, 1945 — has shifted. Although the Palestinian cause remains dear to many Arab citizens who grew up witnessing the suffering of Palestinians, the Arab League now faces an existential crisis. The absence of a unified Arab security agenda and growing divergences over shared challenges have led to fractured positions among member states, with some prioritising alliances with powers like the US, a steadfast ally of Israel. Consequently, a number of Arab countries have distanced themselves from the Palestinian cause, entering into peace agreements or security and military partnerships with the US and Western nations.
With rising regional and sectarian tensions, a significant transformation has occurred: rather than acting as key players in the struggle against Israel, some Arab regimes have established friendly relations with it, often assuming the role of neutral mediators. Meanwhile, as Gaza endures nearly 400 days of relentless attacks — massacres, destruction of infrastructure and targeted bombings of hospitals that affect civilians, medical staff and international aid workers, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) — the official Arab response has largely been marked by silence. Despite global protests and unprecedented expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, most Arab nations have remained passive, an attitude contrary to Islamic principles and the traditional values of the Arab world, which advocate for defending the oppressed. This apathy has, in turn, emboldened Israel to continue its actions unchecked, knowing that without the support of the US and other Western allies, the resistance in Gaza might have led to different outcomes.
The ongoing conflict has revealed that for some Arab governments, the Palestinian issue no longer holds its once-central place. This shift in priorities is likely to affect the relationship between these regimes and their people, for whom Palestine remains a deeply emotional matter. Given the current state of affairs, the concept of Arab national security appears sidelined, and a revival of collective action seems distant.
The article is translated by Badr al Dhafari The original version of this article was published in Oman newspaper on November 7.
Khaled al Marhoun
The writer is an expert in international law and political affairs.
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