The Creation of the State of Israel as a National Security Threat to the MENA Region (Part I)

The creation of Israel posed numerous challenges to the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries. After gaining independence, Israel adopted policies of expansionism and brutality. Innocent Palestinians were forced to leave their homes and migrate to neighboring countries, which created both traditional and non-traditional security threats for Arab states. Undoubtedly, the geopolitical, geostrategic, and geo-economic dynamics of the region shifted following the establishment of this new Jewish state.

Orthodox Jewish communities, which hold significant influence in Israel’s political system, have contributed to the formulation of aggressive policies toward Palestinians and neighboring states. Several wars have taken place between Israel and MENA countries, none of which ended in a decisive victory. Instead, Israel continued expanding its territory by capturing land from sovereign neighboring nations. These shifting geopolitical realities invited major global powers into the region and incentivized the formation of bloc politics.

Israel’s growing nuclear ambiguity and the escalating security dilemma have fueled an arms race in the MENA region. The refugee crisis, mass migration, emergence of proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Houthis, and Hamas, the violation of international law, the breach of neighboring countries’ sovereignty, acts of genocide, mass killings, and other forms of traditional and non-traditional threats have intensified as a result of Israel’s creation. This essay explores these complex security challenges and proposes potential recommendations to prevent war and promote a peaceful and coexistent MENA region.

The establishment of Israel stems from historical, political, and religious factors, driven by the Jewish yearning for a homeland and shaped by 20th-century geopolitical events. The Zionist movement, led by Theodor Herzl, gained traction amidst rising Puritanical movements and persecution in Europe. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration marked British support for the creation of a Jewish national home in Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire.

Following World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations placed Palestine under British mandate (1920–1948), during which Jewish migration surged—especially in the 1930s, due to Nazi persecution in Europe. Rising violence and revolts against British rule and between communities further destabilized the region. After World War II and the Holocaust, global sympathy for Jews increased, and so did calls for a Jewish state.

In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan to divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international governance. While the Jewish leadership accepted it, Arab leaders rejected the plan, viewing it as unjust. Violence soon erupted between Jewish and Arab militias.

On May 14, 1948, a day before the British withdrawal, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the independence of Israel. The next day, five Arab nations—Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon—launched a military invasion, initiating the First Arab-Israeli War (1948–1949). Though outnumbered, Israel won and expanded its territory beyond the UN’s original plan. Over 700,000 Palestinians were displaced and became refugees—a tragedy referred to as the Nakba, which remains central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Subsequent decades saw multiple Arab-Israeli wars, including the Suez Crisis (1956), the Six-Day War (1967)—in which Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights—and the Yom Kippur War (1973). For over half a century, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has persisted, rooted in unresolved issues of land, sovereignty, and the right of return.

Despite peace efforts such as the Camp David Accords (1978) and the Oslo Accords (1993), tensions remain high. Israel continues to play a dominant role in the region, but controversy over its creation and endurance fuels regional conflict and global diplomatic debate.

The changing regional dynamics following Israel’s creation attracted involvement from major powers. While Israel has received consistent support from European countries and the United States, the Soviet Union backed Arab nations affected by Israeli policies. Some European nations, perhaps trying to atone for their historical mistreatment of Jews, openly supported Israel’s actions. This alienated many MENA countries, prompting them to seek alliances with rival powers. Over time, alienated and radicalized youth formed proxy groups to counter Israeli aggression. The Cold War soon engulfed the MENA region, where Israel—with U.S. support—pursued territorial expansion, while Arab countries, backed by proxies and global allies, sought to resist.

The expulsion of Palestinians created deep security challenges. Millions of refugees brought political instability, economic strain, and social unrest to host countries. In a region already struggling with water scarcity and economic hardship, hosting large refugee populations became unsustainable. The sense of alienation among citizens, compounded by competition for resources, led to social tensions and, at times, revolts against refugees.

For example, Jordan hosts over 2 million Palestinian refugees. The government treads carefully to maintain internal balance and prevent ethnic clashes. In 1971, the Black September conflict between the Jordanian military and the Palestinian Liberation Organization resulted in thousands of deaths. Other neighboring countries have also faced minor conflicts and tensions due to the refugee burden, which risks fueling instability and radicalism.

Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem continues to endanger the MENA region’s security. It has triggered wars, radicalization, border tensions, economic sanctions, and diplomatic standoffs. Intifadas (1987, 2000) and repeated Gaza conflicts (2008, 2012, 2014, 2023) have drawn regional states—Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt—into the conflict.

Continued settlement expansion in the West Bank threatens Jordan’s stability, while Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and Syria provoke retaliation from Hezbollah and others, raising the risk of full-scale war. Meanwhile, groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Hamas exploit the Palestinian plight to justify extremism and terrorism, which destabilizes the wider region.

Clearly, the creation of Israel has transformed the region’s geopolitical and security landscape. Yet, this article only covers part of the broader picture. Part II will explore the wider effects of Israel’s creation, the role of international actors, and offer recommendations to resolve the Palestinian issue and promote peaceful coexistence between Israel and its neighbors.