The Middle East, known as the “land of two oceans, five seas, and three continents,” has become a strategically contested area due to its important position and scarce oil resources, with wars and conflicts almost never ceasing. Among these, the most typical conflict is the seemingly endless and complicated “Arab-Israeli conflict.”
Israel and Arab nations have long-held grievances, particularly the “Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” which has become a time bomb disrupting peace and stability in the Middle East. Yet, it is precisely this small country, tempered by war and seemingly weak, that plays an irreplaceable and crucial role in the region.
01 Historical Origins: Wandering and Return, the Jewish People’s Path to Statehood
The earliest history of Jewish settlement in the Palestinian area dates back to the 11th century BC. At that time, the Jews established the Kingdom of Hebrews in Canaan (modern-day Palestine).
In the 1st century AD, the iron heel of the Roman Empire trampled the Kingdom of Hebrews, and the Jews began their漂泊 journey into exile around the world.
Time moved to the 7th century AD, when the expansion of the Arab Empire spread to the Palestinian region. A large number of Arabs subsequently arrived and gradually became the main inhabitants of the area.
From the end of the 19th century, especially during World War II when they were persecuted by the Nazis, Jews living in exile around the world, guided by Zionism as their spiritual totem, flocked back to Palestine in large numbers.
In 1948, the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel officially announced the establishment of a new state based on the Jewish nation—Israel.
02 War and Peace: The Reshaping of the Geopolitical Landscape after the Middle East Wars
Starting from the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948, launched by Arab states due to disputes over territorial distribution, the two sides fought a total of five devastating wars thereafter. A true ceasefire was only achieved in 1982 under UN mediation.
In 1948, according to the UN resolution, the Jews accepted the partition plan; the Arabs rejected it. Five Arab armies invaded the nascent state. The result was counterproductive: Israel not only survived but emerged victorious.
The wars of 1967 and 1973 confirmed this once again: every attempt to eliminate Israel resulted in Israel becoming stronger, conquering strategic territories like the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights.
In September 1993, the resolution of the “Israeli-Palestinian conflict” saw substantial progress. The two sides signed the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington. This declaration provided an effective solution for some direct conflicts of interest between Israel and the Arab states.
03 A Technological Power: The Innovation Miracle in the Desert
Israel’s capital to single-handedly challenge Arab states for so long lies in its comprehensive industrial structure and mature market economic system.
Facing a harsh natural environment and severe resource scarcity, the Jews realized that only by developing technology and industrialization could they achieve rapid take-off. Relying on massive loans from the United States, Israel focused its development on high-tech research and development and industrial system construction.
After decades of development, Israel has achieved remarkable feats in high technology: it has one of the highest ratios of R&D personnel in its population and R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP in the world. Simultaneously, Israel has the world’s highest proportion of scientists and engineers per capita.
Israel’s industry, especially its military industry, is equally a source of immense pride for its citizens. The initial purpose of developing a military industry was to address the military conflicts that could erupt at any time in the region. However, leveraging its superior scientific and technological R&D advantages, Israel’s military industry now not only serves domestic needs but has clients all over the world.
04 Contemporary Conflict: The Gaza War and Latest Developments
In October 2023, Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 people taken hostage, triggering the latest Gaza conflict.
Israel responded with a forceful, comprehensive military offensive. According to statistics from the Gaza Health Ministry, this conflict has resulted in over 68,800 Palestinian deaths.
In October 2025, mediated by the United States, Israel and Hamas achieved a ceasefire. According to the ceasefire agreement, the sides began exchanging detainees and hostages’ remains.
As of November 4, 2025, Hamas had returned the remains of 20 hostages. If the recently discovered remains are confirmed, this means that the remains of 7 hostages are still in Gaza.
05 Regional Confrontation: Israel’s Ongoing Conflicts with Neighboring Forces
The conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah continues. On November 2, 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Katz threatened to intensify attacks against Hezbollah.
Katz stated: “Iran-affiliated groups are playing with fire”; the Lebanese president is buying time. Strict application of measures will continue and be strengthened. We will not tolerate any threat to the residents of northern Israel.”
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of responding to his dialogue proposals with intensified attacks.
In the West Bank, on November 2, 2025, Israel seized large tracts of Palestinian land in the town of Anata, north of Jerusalem. Witnesses stated that Israeli forces entered the town accompanied by bulldozers and began leveling the large land area.
06 Security Architecture: New Posture in the Middle East
Facing a complex and increasingly tense regional situation, Arab nations are beginning to reconsider their security strategies.
On September 17, 2025, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan officially signed a Joint Strategic Defense Agreement in Riyadh, stipulating that an attack by a third party against either country would be considered “an act of aggression against both.”
According to the Associated Press, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that, if needed by Saudi Arabia, according to the new joint strategic defense agreement, Pakistan’s nuclear program “would be made available” to Saudi Arabia.
This move is seen by analysts as a signal to Israel. Israel has long been considered the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East.
07 Water Resource Innovation and Management
Israel has no oil, is surrounded by enemies, and lacks water, yet it has turned its land into an innovation laboratory: drip irrigation, large-scale seawater desalination, cybersecurity, medicine, and agricultural technology exports.
Facing a poor natural environment and severe resource scarcity, the Jews realized that only through technological and industrial development could they achieve rapid advancement.
Agricultural technologies represented by drip irrigation have facilitated smooth production activities, enabling Israel to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency and even exports in the arid Middle East.
This spirit of innovation has not only solved Israel’s domestic resource shortages but also provided valuable experience and technology for global resource management.
The Middle East has experienced decades of conflict and turmoil, and Israel’s presence and influence in this land can no longer be ignored. From the initial struggle for survival to becoming the only highly developed capitalist country in the Middle East today, Israel’s rise is one of the most remarkable phenomena in contemporary international politics.
Today, by virtue of its technological strength, military superiority, and innovative spirit, Israel has not only gained a firm foothold in the Middle East but has also become a key force influencing the regional landscape.
The signing of the Saudi-Pakistan defense agreement is an indirect acknowledgment by the Arab world of Israel’s regional influence—they no longer rely solely on US security guarantees but are beginning to seek diversified security partners.
As one observer noted, “Israel, though small in size, is indeed a giant.” In the foreseeable future, this “small giant” will continue to play an irreplaceable role in the Middle East, its importance deeply rooted in this ancient and contentious land.
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