The bitter relationship between Israel and Arab states

Israel's bombing of Qatar last week risks straining relations with Arab states meeting on Monday, adding another chapter to a tumultuous history since Israel's founding in 1948, marked by repeated wars and periods of cold peace.

Here is how the relationships have played out for some major Arab countries, which have also had complex ties with Palestinian leaders over the years, complicating efforts to stabilize the Middle East.

Egypt

Israel and Egypt, the most populous Arab state, fought wars in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973. However, Egypt struck the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 1978 at Camp David. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who agreed to the agreement, was assassinated three years later.

The peace treaty remains highly unpopular among Egyptians, according to opinion polls. Still, it has become an enduring part of Cairo's foreign and security policies and is key to its relationship with the United States. Israel and Egypt work together on oil and gas, but have little other trade.

Comments by Israeli and U.S. politicians suggesting that Gaza's population should be relocated partially to Egypt's Sinai were vehemently condemned in Cairo.

Jordan

Jordan, the second Arab state to make peace with Israel in 1994, has the closest ties to Palestinians among Arab countries. Some estimates suggest that more than half the country's population is Palestinian — many of whom are descended from refugees who fled or were expelled when Israel was established in 1948.

Jordan controlled the West Bank and East Jerusalem from 1948 until Israel captured and occupied the Palestinian territories during the 1967 war. King Abdullah's Hashemite dynasty has served as the custodian of Jerusalem's Muslim and Christian sites since 1924.

Like with Egypt, the peace deal with Israel is essential to Jordan's approach to security and foreign policy and is central to its ties with the United States. However, anger over Israel's treatment of Palestinians is widespread in Jordan and was sharpened by the war in Gaza.

UAE

The Gulf monarchy surprised many Arab states in 2020 by agreeing to normalize relations with Israel — the first to do so under Donald Trump's so-called 'Abraham Accords.'

The deal allowed the UAE and Israel to coordinate more closely on what they both saw as threats from Shi'ite Iran and Sunni Islamist groups. It was seen in Abu Dhabi as a means of bolstering the country's economy and its regional role.

However, the UAE has always stated that normalization aims to support the goal of a Palestinian state — a position that has faced increasing challenges due to the war in Gaza and the rapid expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Israel's airstrike on Qatar, a neighboring monarchy and fellow member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, now plunges the relationship with the UAE into uncharted territory.

Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco

Fellow Gulf monarchy Bahrain followed the UAE in normalizing ties with Israel shortly afterward. Morocco, which already had relations with Israel, agreed to strengthen them as part of the Abraham Accords in exchange for the United States recognizing its sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Sudan became the fourth member of the accords but did not implement normalization before descending into war.

Saudi Arabia 

Home to Islam's holiest sites, Saudi Arabia has always presented itself as a champion of the Palestinian cause but has for decades kept the door open to future ties with Israel.

In 2000, it corralled other Arab states to agree on the Arab peace initiative, offering full normalization with Israel in return for the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of Palestinian refugees.

In recent years, it seemed like it was moving toward following the UAE and Bahrain into a deal, but the war in Gaza and Israeli strikes on Gulf ally Qatar have made that possibility less likely than ever.

Syria

Israel seized much of Syria's Golan Heights during the 1967 war and declared it was annexing the area in 1981. Under the Assad family, an ally of Israel's arch regional foe Iran, the relationship remained one of open hostility.

During Syria's civil war, Israel repeatedly bombed targets linked to Iran inside Syrian territory. After the Assads were toppled in December, it intensified strikes on Syrian military targets, seized Mount Hermon, and moved troops into southern Syria.

Lebanon

Lebanon is home to many Palestinian refugees and was host to the Palestine Liberation Organisation from 1970. Israel clashed repeatedly with the PLO and invaded Lebanon to fight it in 1978 and 1982, occupying the country's south until 1990.

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group emerged as Israel's main enemy on its borders. Last year's war, triggered by the conflict in Gaza, led to major reverses for Hezbollah and an uneasy ceasefire deal.

Iraq

Israel destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor with a bombing raid in 1981. Since the war in Gaza, it has repeatedly struck Iran-aligned groups inside Iraq.

Yemen

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have tried to attack Israel with missiles and drones since 2023 over the war in Gaza. Israel has targeted Houthi leaders and military positions with airstrikes.