They say Israel’s occupying Palestine.
But what if it’s the opposite?
What if Israel and Palestine are both being occupied — not by each other, but by the agendas of outside Arab nations?
A Carve-Up, Not a Cause
Long before 1967, Arab regimes had their eyes on the land — but not to create Palestine.
- Syria wanted the Galilee.
- Jordan wanted the West Bank.
- Egypt wanted the Negev.
And after the 1948 war, they took what they could: Jordan annexed the West Bank, and Egypt seized Gaza.
It wasn’t about Palestinian statehood — it was about dividing the spoils
(Morris, 2001).
From 1949 to 1967, there were no Palestinian governments, no moves toward independence, and no Arab League proposals for Palestinian autonomy
(Karsh, 2010).
Sabotage from Within
The Arab world wasn’t the only actor working against peace.
Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Mufti of Jerusalem and leader of the Palestinian national movement, rejected every partition offer, including the 1937 Peel Plan.
His goal was total Arab control — even if that meant collaborating with Nazi Germany during WWII
The Turning Point: 1967
Then came the Six-Day War.
In 1967, Israel defeated the surrounding Arab armies and took control of the West Bank and Gaza.
But rather than seek permanent conquest, Israel offered to return the land in exchange for peace and recognition.
More than that — Israeli leaders also expressed openness to the establishment of a Palestinian state, if it meant lasting peace.
The response? The Khartoum Resolution — also known as the “Three No’s”:
No peace. No recognition. No negotiations.
Because the goal was never just a Palestinian state.
The goal was — and for many still is — no Jewish state at all.
Palestinians as Pawns
To this day, regimes like Qatar, Iran, and others use Palestinians as tools to destabilize Israel — not to build peace.
They fund terrorism, sabotage ceasefires, and silence Palestinians pushing for compromise
(Levitt, 2006).
Their support is not for Palestine — it’s against Israel.
Shared Victims of the Same Agenda
Both Israelis and Palestinians are trapped in a cycle created by others.
- If Israel eases restrictions, its civilians are attacked.
- If Israel tightens them, innocent Palestinians suffer under blockade and bad leadership.
But the outside powers have the leverage to change this — and they know it.
When Qatar told Hamas to release a hostage — they did.
That’s the kind of influence that could end the suffering — if it were used to support peace.
A Call for Real Peace
It’s been over 75 years.
Whatever your stance on Israel’s founding, the reality is simple:
Israel exists — and it’s not going anywhere.
If Arab regimes genuinely care about Palestinians, they must stop fueling delusions of Israel’s destruction and start engaging with reality.
Because until they lift their grip — their occupation — no one wins.
And it’s the people — on both sides — who continue to suffer.