Abstract
The Middle East remains a region marked by a deeply entrenched web of conflicts shaped by historical grievances, geopolitical rivalries, and intricate socio-cultural dynamics. Over the past decades, a range of political, diplomatic, and academic initiatives have sought to address these challenges through various conflict resolution mechanisms. Despite these efforts, durable solutions have often proven elusive, with many interventions yielding limited or inconclusive outcomes. In this context, the present research critically examines the applicability of Edward Luttwak’s 1999 controversial proposition to “give war a chance” as a means to avoid premature peacekeeping. Through a comprehensive analysis of the Israeli-Arab conflict, from its roots in the late 19th century to the ongoing Gaza War in 2025, this article challenges the theoretical and practical relevance of Luttwak’s framework. While the notion may resonate with realist or realpolitik logic under certain conditions, it ultimately offers a reductive and insufficient approach to understanding conflict dynamics in the Middle East. By underestimating the complexity and interconnected nature of contemporary warfare and by overstating the capacity of violence to produce sustainable political outcomes, Luttwak’s thesis neglects the deeper structural and societal dimensions of protracted conflicts. Furthermore, it embodies a pessimistic worldview that risks marginalizing the potential for diplomacy, coexistence, and regional development. By integrating ideas from political science, international relations, and peace studies, the article argues that sustainable peace in the Middle East necessitates a more inclusive and multidimensional approach, one that extends beyond military solutions to encompass reconciliation, inclusive peacebuilding, and cooperation.