Wall Street Journal OPINION | COMMENTARY
By Michael Segal
Oct. 25, 2023 4:57 pm ET
The core claim that Hamas and its sympathizers have used to justify attacks on Israel is that the Jews are colonialists anywhere they live in Israel, including the communities near Gaza that terrorists attacked this month. That, however, isn’t the only view in the Arab world. A more congenial position was stated in the lead-up to the Abraham Accords, when Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s then foreign minister, said that “Israel is part of the heritage of this whole region, historically,” and “the Jewish people have a place amongst us.”
There is ample evidence that view is correct. Jews are indigenous to Israel, as shown by evidence from history, archaeology, linguistics and genetics. Jews are closely related genetically to the Palestinian Arabs, many of whom descend from Jews who converted to Islam, and also to the Saudis. Those of us who work with genetic diseases see evidence of this kinship all the time.
There are no easy solutions to the current conflict, but there is a role for the Saudis. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hopes to reshape the Middle East by building on the Abraham Accords. His approach is to welcome Israel and advance the rights of Palestinian Arabs. He shouldn’t be expected to issue a statement of empathy for Israel in the current environment, but there are two things he should do to advance his vision and salvage the current grim situation.
First, echo Khalid bin Ahmed’s statement and make clear that Jews are indigenous to the Middle East and that Israel is part of the heritage of the Middle East.
Second, offer to lead a force to ensure that Gaza is no longer ruled by Hamas, preferably before Israel reduces Gaza to rubble.
These are big steps, but the bold leader of the wealthy country that serves as the custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites can take them. The Hamas attack on Israel is likely to have been motivated in part by a desire to derail the Israel-Saudi peace initiative. If MBS has the courage, he can use the widely condemned actions of Hamas and its backer Iran to undercut them both and establish the Saudis as visionaries in the Middle East.
Time is short, and the alternative is the abyss.
Dr. Segal is a neurologist and neuroscientist.
Appeared in the October 26, 2023, print edition as 'How the Saudis Can Help'.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-saudis-can-help-with-gaza-war-dc9805a4
Copyright ©2023 Michael Segal