Why did Martin Buber advocate Jewish-Arab cooperation in Palestine?

Martin Buber’s advocacy for Jewish-Arab cooperation in Palestine was deeply rooted in his philosophy of dialogue, which emphasized the necessity of genuine encounters between human beings.12

Buber believed that the malaise of humanity stemmed from a breakdown in vital relationships, including those between man and man. He argued that these relationships could only be restored by meeting the "other" as a person rather than an object to be manipulated. Applying this to the political context of Palestine, he championed the formation of a binational state, viewing it as an ethical imperative to foster mutual recognition and peace between the two peoples.134

His stance often placed him in opposition to official Zionist and Israeli state policies, as he consistently prioritized the "I–Thou" relationship—a state of mutual trust and openness—over the "I–It" approach, which he associated with political maneuvering and the reduction of persons to tools or conveniences. His lifelong commitment to this cause was so profound that, upon his death, a delegation from the Arab Students’ Organization honored him at his funeral for his efforts to achieve peace between the two peoples.134