The Samad Initiative: A Call for a Shakeup in Arab-Israeli Engagement

by Jasmin Muhanna It is frequently reported that Israel and Sunni Arab states coordinate privately to confront security challenges from Iran, its proxies, and Sunni jihadists. But beyond the narrow realm of government, the conceptual fault lines of Arab-Israeli conflict remain largely in place. In most Arab countries, entrenched sociopolitical forces opposed to better ties still dominate the discourse and cripple dissenting voices, drawing their mandate from Israeli settlement construction and their lifeblood from the pains of terrorism and occupation. Inside Israel, most of the population has grown indifferent to the surrounding region and lacks the language tools necessary to engage … Read Full Post