Approximately 55 percent of the respondents of the Arab Youth Survey believe that the Israel-Palestine conflict will not be resolved within the next five years.
In the survey, titled “Living a New Reality,” Arab youth anticipate a deteriorating situation between Iran, Israel, and the West, potentially leading to military conflict. They also express concerns about Iran becoming more authoritarian and experiencing civil unrest or even a coup.
The survey revealed that while a majority of citizens in GCC countries express hope for a positive outcome, over two-thirds of respondents in the Levant and more than half in North Africa view a resolution as “very unlikely” or “somewhat unlikely.”
Arab Youth: Views on conflict and relations
Moreover, a considerable portion of young Arabs, nearly 39 percent overall and 51 percent in the Levant region, feel that the conflict does not receive adequate attention from the Arab world, citing rising national priorities.
The survey also highlights divergent opinions regarding closer ties with Israel. While most Arab youth oppose the normalisation of relations between Arab countries and Israel, the UAE, Egypt, and Morocco have shown greater support for diplomatic relations.
In addition, 75 percent of UAE respondents, as signatories of the Abraham Accords, and a significant percentage in Egypt and Morocco express their backing for normalising ties.
However, the sentiment in Sudan, the 4th Arab nation to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel, stands in contrast, with 94 percent opposing the move.
Sunil John, President of MENA at BCW and Founder of ASDA’A BCW, said that despite differing viewpoints on Israel among countries involved in the Abraham Accords, the prevailing sentiment across the region remains against normalisation.
“Overall, the Arab world has witnessed a reduction in armed conflict in recent years, with the situation in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen calmer than it was before,” said John.
“The exceptions of course are Sudan, where civil unrest has flared recently, and the Palestinian Territories, where relations between Palestinians and Israelis remain deadlocked, a state of affairs exacerbated by the involvement of Iran.”
John added that sustained de-escalation of tensions is crucial for the Middle East, a region with over 400 million people, to unlock its full potential as an “economic bloc.”
The 15th annual ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey has revealed significant insights into the perspectives of Arab youth on various regional issues. The survey interviewed 3,600 Arab citizens aged 18 to 24 in their respective nations.
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