Introduction.
The question of why Israel finds itself in a state of conflict with nearly all its neighbors is one of the most complex and contentious issues in international relations. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has fought multiple wars with Arab states and has been in a continuous state of tension with various actors across the Middle East. The reasons for this persistent conflict are deeply rooted in history, ideology, territorial disputes, national identity, and more recent geopolitical shifts. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the subsequent devastating war in Gaza have further inflamed these tensions, straining Israel's relationships even with its peace partners and jeopardizing the normalization processes painstakingly built over previous decades. To understand the current situation, one must examine the foundational causes and their evolution over time.

I. Foundational Causes: The 1948 War and the "Nakba".
The modern conflict traces its origins to the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the rise of Zionism—a movement advocating for a Jewish homeland in historic Palestine—and the simultaneous emergence of Palestinian Arab nationalism. The Holocaust intensified the urgency for a Jewish safe haven, while the local Arab population viewed increasing Jewish immigration with deep apprehension.

The end of the British Mandate in 1947 saw the United Nations propose a partition plan dividing Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. This plan was accepted by the Jewish leadership but rejected by Arab leaders, who viewed it as a form of European colonialism. The subsequent 1948 Arab-Israeli War resulted in the establishment of the State of Israel on a larger territory than initially proposed and led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, an event known to Palestinians as the "Nakba" or "catastrophe." For Palestinians, this foundational event represents a deep historical grievance and a loss of their homeland. For Israelis, the 1948 war is celebrated as the War of Independence, a necessary struggle for survival against multiple invading Arab armies. This fundamental clash of narratives and the unresolved issue of Palestinian refugees have fueled the conflict ever since.

II. The 1967 War and the Occupation of Neighboring Territories.
The 1967 Six-Day War dramatically reshaped the territorial map and created new and enduring sources of conflict. Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the Golan Heights from Syria. This victory, while militarily decisive, placed Israel in the position of an occupying power over millions of Palestinians and sovereign territory of neighboring states.

The Sinai Peninsula was later returned to Egypt as part of the 1979 peace treaty, but the Golan Heights was effectively annexed by Israel in 1981—a move not recognized by most of the international community. The West Bank and Gaza Strip became the focal points of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination, and Israeli settlement expansion in these territories, particularly in the West Bank, has been a major obstacle to peace. International bodies have repeatedly condemned settlement activity as illegal under international law. The occupation of these territories and the ongoing settlement project are primary sources of tension with neighboring states, who support the Palestinian cause and view Israeli expansionism as a direct threat to regional stability.

III. The Resurgence of the "Greater Israel" Ideology.
A significant factor in recent years has been the increasingly vocal discourse among Israeli leaders about the concept of "Greater Israel." This idea, rooted in biblical scripture and religious Zionist ideology, envisions Israeli sovereignty extending over a territory that, according to some interpretations, stretches from the Nile in Egypt to the Euphrates in Iraq.

While this vision is not official government policy, it has been embraced by ultra-nationalist figures and, notably, by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself. In a 2024 interview, when presented with an amulet depicting a map of the "Promised Land," Netanyahu stated he was "very connected" to the vision of Greater Israel, describing it as a historic and spiritual mission. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has been even more explicit, stating that Jerusalem's territory will expand to Damascus and famously declaring that "there is no such thing as the Palestinian people."

These statements are not merely rhetorical. They translate into practical policies of accelerated settlement construction in the West Bank and attempts to prevent the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. For neighboring countries, such rhetoric represents a direct threat to their territorial sovereignty and a violation of international law, including the UN Charter's prohibition on the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any state. Jordan, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, views these statements as a clear violation of the treaty's provisions, which are based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

IV. Strained Relationships with Peace Partners: Egypt and Jordan.
Israel's peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan have been cornerstones of regional stability for decades. However, these relationships have come under severe strain due to the Gaza war and Israeli policies.

While the treaties remain in place and are critical to both countries' security and foreign policies, public opinion in Egypt and Jordan has always been largely opposed to normalization with Israel. The devastating human toll and destruction in Gaza have inflamed this sentiment. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in a September 2025 summit, referred to Israel as the "enemy," the first time he has done so since coming to power in 2014, and warned that Israeli actions were "even aborting the existing peace agreements." Jordan has also expressed alarm over Israeli settlement policies and rhetoric regarding "Greater Israel," which directly implicates Jordanian territory.

Both countries are deeply concerned about potential Palestinian displacement from Gaza or the West Bank into their territories, a scenario they vehemently oppose. The stability of these peace treaties, once considered cold but durable, is now more precarious than at any point in decades.

V. The Abraham Accords and the Saudi Question.
The 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, represented a significant shift in regional dynamics, driven by shared concerns about Iran and a desire for economic cooperation. However, the signatories have always maintained that normalization was intended to advance the goal of a Palestinian state. The Gaza war has made this position increasingly untenable.

The UAE has warned that annexation of the West Bank would be a "red line" and that "there can be no lasting peace" if it occurs. The Israeli strike on Qatar in September 2025, targeting Hamas leaders, further complicated relations with Gulf states.

The biggest prize for Israeli diplomacy has always been normalization with Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites and the most influential Arab state. However, Saudi Arabia has made clear that recognition of Israel is conditional on the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Gaza war and Israeli actions have made that prospect dimmer than ever. Saudi Arabia has also shifted towards engaging with Iran, brokered by China, in an attempt to maintain regional stability, demonstrating that its foreign policy is no longer solely dependent on the US-Israel axis.

VI. The Northern Front: Syria, Lebanon, and Hezbollah.
Israel's northern border remains a volatile front. Israel seized and later annexed the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and 1981, a territory that Syria continues to claim. During Syria's civil war, Israel repeatedly bombed targets linked to Iran in Syrian territory. Following the collapse of the Assad government in late 2024, Israel intensified strikes on Syrian military assets and moved troops into southern Syria, creating new sources of tension.

In Lebanon, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group has emerged as Israel's most formidable conventional enemy, possessing an estimated 150,000 missiles and rockets. The 2023–2025 war, triggered by the Gaza conflict, led to major military reverses for Hezbollah but also exposed Israel's vulnerabilities, prompting tens of thousands of Israelis to evacuate from the northern border area. An uneasy ceasefire remains in place, but the underlying conflict is far from resolved. Regional actors have warned that Israeli expansionism, particularly in Syria, threatens regional security and aims to fragment neighboring countries.

VII. The Palestinian Issue as a Regional Unifying Force.
Despite the diversity of actors and interests in the Middle East, the Palestinian cause has historically served as a powerful unifying force, providing ideological legitimacy and a rallying point across sectarian and national lines. The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, reaffirmed by the Arab League, offered full normalization with Israel in return for withdrawal from occupied territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Successive Israeli governments largely ignored this initiative.

The October 7th attack and the subsequent devastating Israeli campaign in Gaza have once again elevated the Palestinian issue to the forefront of regional and global consciousness. The staggering death toll—tens of thousands of Palestinians, a large percentage of whom are women and children—the destruction of infrastructure, and the humanitarian catastrophe have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. This has placed enormous pressure on Arab states that have normalized relations with Israel and has reinvigorated popular support for the Palestinian cause across the Muslim world.

VIII. The Role of External Actors: Iran and the United States.
The conflict is also inextricably linked to the broader regional rivalry between Iran and Israel. Iran supports a network of proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which it frames as part of a "ring of fire" around Israel. The April 2024 direct Iranian missile and drone attack on Israel, in retaliation for an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate, marked a dangerous escalation.

The United States plays a central and often controversial role as Israel's primary ally and military supplier. The U.S. has provided substantial military aid and diplomatic cover, including multiple vetoes of UN Security Council resolutions critical of Israel. However, this unwavering support has also been criticized for enabling Israeli actions and for undermining the U.S.'s stated commitment to a two-state solution. The Gaza war has strained this relationship, with the Biden administration expressing increasing concern over civilian casualties, while also demonstrating Israel's heavy reliance on U.S. military, intelligence, and diplomatic support.

Conclusion.
The question of why Israel is at war with its neighbors cannot be answered with a single cause. It is the product of a deeply layered history involving competing national narratives, foundational territorial disputes rooted in the 1948 and 1967 wars, the unresolved plight of the Palestinian people, and the rise of powerful non-state actors like Hezbollah. In recent years, the explicit embrace of "Greater Israel" ideology by key Israeli leaders has intensified concerns among neighboring states about expansionist intentions, placing unprecedented strain on existing peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. The devastating Gaza war following the October 7th attack has inflamed regional tensions, challenged the Abraham Accords framework, and pushed the prospect of normalization with Saudi Arabia further away. As analysts argue, Israel now stands at a historic crossroads: one path leads toward the erosion of its peace treaties, international isolation, and further radicalization, while the other—anchored in a regional agreement including a viable two-state solution—offers the only sustainable path to security and stability. The choice, and the future of the region, hangs in the balance.

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