A three-way switchable Pd-catalyzed and microwave assisted process appropriate for selective arylation or hydrodehalogenation of the imidazole backbone was discovered and entirely optimized. The "arylation switch position" was adapted and optimized for the synthesis of 4,5-diaryl-1H-imidazoles, while the "hydrodehalogenation switch position" was used for the preparation of 4(5)-iodo-1H-imidazole. The hydrodehalogenation and the cross-coupling reactions were also successfully combined in "the third switch position" that performs an assisted tandem reaction sequence that produced 4(5)-aryl-1H-imidazole. All of the three pathways produced their corresponding products in excellent yield.