On 15 September 2025, the Arab-Islamic summit convened in Doha, Qatar, in response to Israel’s airstrikes on Qatar and Gaza, once again highlighting the enduring dynamics of Arab-Israeli diplomacy. Despite expressions of solidarity with Qatar and Palestine, the summit ended with symbolic gestures rather than actions that could influence Israeli policy or shift the broader geopolitical landscape. This raises the recurring question: Why does Arab diplomacy, especially in relation to Israel, remain mired in cycles of condemnation without follow-through? The answer lies in a mix of historical inertia, internal divisions, and the influence of global powers—problems that no summit, no matter how vocal, has been able to solve.

Arab diplomacy regarding Israel has a long and complex history, rooted in the geopolitical context of the Middle East. Since the creation of Israel in 1948, Arab states have repeatedly condemned Israeli aggression, issuing numerous declarations and organising summits to express solidarity with Palestine. The founding of Israel resulted in a series of conflicts with neighbouring Arab countries, starting with the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel’s territorial expansion led to further tensions, and the Arab world’s response has remained largely reactive.

The Arab League, the primary diplomatic body for Arab nations, has maintained a firm stance against Israel, but these positions have often been more symbolic than substantive. The 1967 Khartoum Resolution is a prime example, where the Arab League’s “three no’s”—no peace, no recognition, and no negotiations with Israel—symbolised unity but failed to change Israel’s policies. Rather than translating into strategic actions, it reinforced a pattern of symbolic gestures. This pattern has persisted, with the Doha summit providing another instance of condemnation without real........

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