I asked ChatGPT what the Middle East might look like if there had been no rejection of the 1947 UN Partition Plan, no attempted wars to eradicate the Jewish state, no terrorism, and no antisemitism in the Middle East. I swear, this is 100% unedited, including the bold text. I predict the new conspiracy is going to be that AI is secretly controlled by the Jews, along with the media and space lasers.

1. Acceptance of the Partition Plan and Peaceful Coexistence

Had the Arab states and the Palestinian leadership accepted the UN Partition Plan in 1947, a two-state solution would have been established, with Israel as a Jewish state and an Arab Palestinian state in the remaining territories. There would have been a Jewish-majority state within its allocated borders and a Palestinian state next to it. Since both sides would have had international backing, the idea of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East would have been normalized.

• Over time, Israel’s democratic system might have become a model for the region, with Jews and Arabs living peacefully side by side, as many of Israel’s Arab citizens do today. In fact, Israel’s Arab population (about 20% of the total population) enjoys full citizenship, including the right to vote, hold office, and participate in public life. This could have been the norm across the region, had there been peace.

• The Palestinians in this scenario could have had the same rights to self-determination and sovereignty as Israel, allowing for long-term development, economic cooperation, and regional peace. There would have been no military conflicts like the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Six-Day War of 1967, or the Yom Kippur War of 1973, and thus no territorial disputes over Gaza, the West Bank, or the Golan Heights.

• Israel’s economic success and the prosperity it achieved in the decades since—in fields like technology, agriculture, and medicine—could have benefited the entire region, including a future Palestinian state. Cooperation could have spanned trade, security, and infrastructure.

2. No Terrorism, No Hijackings, No Violence

Without terrorism or military escalations, Israel would not have had to build a security barrier, impose blockades, or create checkpoints. These measures are responses to repeated terrorist attacks, including bombings in buses, cafes, and markets. Instead, with mutual trust, the borders between Israel and a Palestinian state could have been open, leading to economic exchange, freedom of movement, and cultural interaction. Tourism from Palestinians to Israel and vice versa could have flourished.

Without international pressure, Israel might have continued its efforts to integrate its Arab citizens (including those living in the Galilee, Negev, and mixed cities like Haifa and Jaffa) into the political and social fabric, much like Palestinians in Israel today. These citizens enjoy rights not extended to Jews in Arab lands, and any future Palestinian state could have evolved to similarly respect the rights of its Jewish minority, had that peace been achieved.

3. No Anti-Semitism, No Exclusion of Jews from Arab Lands

In this scenario, the displacement of Jews from Arab countries following Israel’s founding (with Jews often being expelled, or fleeing due to violence) could have been avoided. Jews had lived in the Arab world for centuries, in some cases dating back to the Biblical era, but after 1948, many were ethnically cleansed from these countries. This is often overlooked in the current narratives around the conflict.

Had there been peace and mutual respect, Arab Jews could have remained in their homelands, contributing to their societies as they had for generations, rather than being forced into exile in Israel, France, or the Americas. The Jewish population in places like Iraq, Egypt, and Syria was once significant and influential. The rise of antisemitism in the Arab world, often fueled by political factors such as Israel’s creation and the Arab-Israeli conflict, made their presence untenable.

Israel, by contrast, has embraced its diverse population, including Jews from Arab countries (often called Mizrahi Jews) and has sought to build a society that reflects this rich diversity, unlike the treatment of Jews in Arab lands, who were systematically excluded, oppressed, or even expelled.

4. Responsibility and Blame

In this alternative history, where peace was accepted and terrorism never occurred, the Arab states and Palestinian leadership would bear primary responsibility for the failure to create a peaceful coexistence and a Palestinian state alongside Israel. The Palestinian leadership rejected the UN Partition Plan in 1947 and did not accept Israel’s right to exist in any form, making it impossible to reach a peaceful agreement. Instead of creating a peaceful two-state solution, Arab countries launched wars, with the stated goal of annihilating the Jewish state.

The displacement of Palestinians would have been minimized had these offers been accepted. The eventual displacement of Jews from Arab lands is also a crucial part of the historical record that often goes underreported, though it parallels the Palestinian refugee situation.

Ultimately, the primary responsibility for the ongoing conflict lies with the rejection of peace, the refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and the failure to accept peaceful coexistence, which was repeatedly offered by Israel over the years. This is not politically correct; it’s the truth based on historical records, which shows that Israel, despite being surrounded by hostile neighbors and facing repeated military aggression, has made attempts to integrate its Arab population and achieve peace with its neighbors.

Conclusion

In short, Israel’s responsibility in the conflict is rooted in its defense of itself and its people, not in an effort to displace anyone. If peace had been accepted in 1947, and if the region had not been driven by anti-Semitism or terrorism, a stable Palestinian state could have existed by now, alongside a peaceful and thriving Israel. The blame for the displacement and the ongoing conflict rests with those who rejected peace, refused to accept a Jewish homeland in the Middle East, and instead chose war and violence over diplomacy.