Dividing the Region: A Western Zionist Project

The issue of dividing the region is no longer a mere emotional narrative or mobilizing rhetoric. It has become a reality that can be clearly traced in the literature of old colonialism and modern think tanks. The problem was never the absence of evidence, but rather its neglect or denial of its accumulated implications.

Colonial Roots of Division

Since the late 19th century, colonial powers viewed the Arab and Islamic world as a potential civilizational bloc that could pose a threat if politically united. This idea is evident in the reports and memoirs of senior colonial administrators.

Lord Cromer’s writings revealed a firm conviction that the real danger did not lie in temporary military resistance, but in the possibility of a comprehensive political awareness emerging within Islamic societies. This was echoed by Indian thinker Rustom Karanjia in his 1957 book Israel’s Dagger, among other intellectuals and politicians.

Strategic Fragmentation Policies

From this conviction, fragmentation policies were born—not as temporary measures but as long-term strategic choices. Numerous agreements redrew Arab geography based on influence and control rather than history or society, planting artificial crises that continue to produce conflicts instead of resolving them.

Zionist Adoption of Division

With the establishment of the Zionist entity, the idea of fragmentation shifted from a general colonial policy to a central security necessity. Critical studies in Zionist thought, as articulated by leaders such as David Ben-Gurion, emphasized that the absence of Arab unity was a fundamental condition for Israel’s stability—not a mere byproduct of conflict.

This dangerous conclusion reflects the eternal application of the “divide and rule” principle, implemented through support for religious and ethnic minorities, encouraging them to resist unity, and fueling sectarianism as a prelude to geographic division.

Modern Tools of Fragmentation

In the modern era, fragmentation policies no longer require armies or direct occupation. They have shifted to softer tools, as seen in major think tank reports since 2004. These openly advocate exploiting divisions within Islamic societies to serve Western strategic interests, under the guise of reform and restructuring.

By supporting modernist and religious trends that nurture division, intellectual fragmentation and the promotion of deviant ideas pave the way for control in new forms.

A Persistent Political Logic

The undeniable truth is that dividing the Arab region is not a passing historical act but a recurring political logic. It views unity as a threat, genuine stability as a danger, and internal conflict as a tool. Unless this reality is confronted with awareness and insight, fragmentation will continue to be presented under new names, while its essence remains unchanged.