The Mideast Quagmire: Unveiling the True Enmity Between Iran and Israel
Watan-In truth, we Arabs are pulled between three regional powers: Turkey, Iran, and Israel. A hidden conflict revolves around control of the region among these three regional powers.
Sometimes it’s in Israel’s interest for Iran to remain strong, to attract Arab regimes frightened of it.
And sometimes, there’s an Iranian interest in Israel’s existence because without an adversarial discourse, Iran would lack justification for exporting its Persian revolution – and I mean the word “Persian.”
Turkey benefits from Arab weakness and division for its economic interests and to increase its influence in the region. It maintains a relationship with its competitors, Israel and Iran, in a state of tension and attraction that aligns with its interests.
Looking at the alliance of Arab countries divided among the three regional powers gives you a clearer picture, as Mohammed Hassanein Heikal predicted in his book “The Gulf War: Illusions of Power and Victory” when he announced the end of the Arab system with the fall of Iraq, and that every Arab state would seek a regional ally.
The UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia have chosen the Zionist alliance, while Qatar, Libya, and Algeria have leaned towards the Turkish alliance.
Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have chosen the Iranian alliance, and Lebanon is also allied with the influential force of Hezbollah.
So, there is competition and conflict, not friendship, among the three powers. None of them desires a widespread regional war that would cost them dearly.
The harsh truth is that there are no Arab powers in the region except those supported by Iran. With the decline or end of the Egyptian and Saudi roles regionally, the Arabs have turned into reactive entities, a “spoils” ripe for division.
Those who ally with the Zionists do not desire a war against Iran that could harm their country, nor do they wish to support political and military forces that help them counter Iran. They only seek to secure their throne under Zionist-American protection.
Iran masters the art of strategic patience and chess-playing and will not risk a wide war facing America. Moreover, Israel’s existence helps Iran spread its discourse concerning Jerusalem and Palestine.
This is my opinion, not binding on anyone, but it’s naïve to consider what lies between Israel and Iran as friendship or a secret alliance. There is enmity that serves each of them.
