They Say/We Say: "Israel should stop worrying about the Palestinians and focus on the Arab world."

They Say We Say We know that pro-Israel does not mean blindly supporting policies that are irrational, reckless, and counter-productive. Pro-Israel means supporting policies that are consistent with Israel's interests and promote its survival as a Jewish, democratic state.

You've heard the arguments of the religious and political right-wing, and so have we. They've had their say. Now, we'll have ours.

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They Say, We Say: Is Peace Possible?

They Say:Israel should stop worrying about the Palestinians and focus on the Arab world. Sunni Arab leaders and Israel share real interests here: a common enemy in Iran and shared worries about ISIS and al Qaeda and the spread of Islamic extremism. Israel can leverage these shared interests to build a new relationship with these leaders, completely disconnected from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
We Say:First, Israel needs to worry about the Palestinians. Top Israeli security officials are on the record stating that Israel’s greatest threat today does not come from Iran or any outside source, but rather from the continued occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Resolving this threat requires Israel to once and for all get serious and negotiate a two-state agreement with the Palestinians that ends the occupation.

Certainly, Israel and Sunni states have shared concerns about Iran and other threats in the region. And it is generally accepted that Israel and many of these states have engaged in longstanding, quiet security coordination that reflects these shared threats and concerns. While such coordination may, indeed, continue and expand in the face of Iran’s new regional profile, the fact remains that until Israel is prepared to be serious about ending the occupation and achieving a two-state agreement with the Palestinians, relations between Israel and Arab countries will remain, at best, limited to relations that exist below the radar.