Amid the loud headlines of wars, threats, and sanctions, I sometimes close my eyes and imagine a different reality; a time when politics does not overshadow daily life, when walls give way to bridges, and when people choose cooperation over conflict.
In this imagined moment, a plane from Tel Aviv lands in Tehran. The pilot, in Hebrew and with an emotional voice, announces: “Welcome to Iran!” The passengers erupt in applause as the wheels touch the ground. It may sound naïve, even utopian – but this future is not only possible, it is necessary.
Israel and Iran share far more than today’s politics admits. For thousands of years, their histories were intertwined. Cyrus the Great, remembered in Jewish tradition as a just and compassionate ruler, allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. In later centuries, Persian Jews flourished in Isfahan, Shiraz, and Tehran, contributing richly to society and culture.
Memory of friendship lingers
The walls of hostility that dominate today are recent, the product of decades, rather than millennia. In the hearts of people, the memory of friendship still lingers. On social media, Iranians and Israelis already reach across borders, expressing solidarity and longing for connection.
Peace would open remarkable opportunities. Facing shared challenges, such as climate change and water scarcity, Israeli innovation in desalination and irrigation could combine with Iran’s ancient qanat water-supply systems – ingenious underground canals recognized as ecological engineering marvels. Together, the two nations could pioneer regional solutions for a greener, safer future.
Medicine offers another path. Hospitals and universities from both countries could share knowledge, research chronic diseases, and integrate advanced science with traditional Persian healing practices.
Cultural life, too, would flourish. Cinema, music, and literature could once again flow freely. Artists would create together, and people would rediscover how much their stories resemble one another. Poetry, food, and art would become bridges stronger than politics.
Economically, peace would open a market of tens of millions. Israeli technology could meet Iranian industry, with trade routes linking the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf. Tourism would follow: Israelis discovering the richness of Persian culture, Iranians visiting Israel – something many have long dreamed of.
Tearful longing
Over the years, countless Iranians I have met shared their longing to see Israel, often with tears in their eyes. I, too, am deeply moved by the thought of visiting Iran, the land where my parents were born.
This vision may sound distant. Yet history proves that impossible dreams can come true. Peace with Egypt once seemed unthinkable, yet it reshaped the Middle East.
Peace with Iran would not be just another treaty. It would be healing: a return to a shared story, where Jews and Persians are not enemies but partners in hope, creation, and the future.
Peace with Iran would not only change the Middle East – it would transform it. We, the people, should never give up on hope.
The writer is a lecturer on citizen protests, women, and graffiti in post-revolutionary Iran.