History is full of crossroads — moments when a different choice could have led an entire region down a better path. One such moment came a century ago, when parts of the Arab leadership briefly considered cooperation with the Jewish people returning to their ancestral homeland.
A striking example is Faisal I of Iraq. Born into the Hashemite family, Faisal emerged from the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire and became the first king of modern Iraq after World War I. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Faisal viewed Jewish national revival not purely as a threat, but as a potential engine for regional development.
Faisal recognized the Jewish people’s organizational strength, economic skills, and commitment to building institutions. He believed that cooperation between Arabs and Jews could help stabilize the Middle East after centuries of Ottoman decline. In private correspondence and meetings, he expressed openness to Jewish immigration and even acknowledged the historical connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel.
But Faisal was ultimately overruled. Arab leaders across the region rejected coexistence, choosing absolutism over pragmatism. Fueled by hatred of minorities and later by radical ideologies, the Arab world turned against Zionism — and, with time, against Jews themselves. That decision proved catastrophic.
