Iran was the ally Israel wanted. It got Saudi Arabia

[bemildred]

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This isn’t the situation Israel would have historically preferred. Israel has far more in common with Iran than with Saudi Arabia. Iran builds on the legacy of an ancient Middle Eastern civilization, much as the Jewish people do in Israel. It is part of the fabric of diversity of the region. The Wahhabi Islam of Saudi Arabia is a net destroyer of the region’s diversity and beauty. It abhors music, culture, dancing, pre-Islamic temples and architecture and of course chess. Wherever it is, diversity is destroyed in the name of a simplistic extremism. Localized Islamic diversity, sheikhs’ tombs, Sufi shrines or Islamic sects like the Ahmadis are all hated. Despite the extremist nature of the Iranian regime, levels of anti-Semitism in Iran are among the lowest in the region. The extremist nature of Iran’s current regime is in contrast to its history.

In the period after 1948 Israel and Iran had diplomatic relations and Iran was the second country after Turkey to recognize the Jewish state. It was a relationship based on common interests. During 1964-1975 the warm relations with Iran enabled the opening of contacts with the Kurds, who were fighting against the Iraqi regime.

In an interesting irony, the Kurds in Iraq now find themselves in the same perplexing situation as Israel. Saudi Arabia and Turkey have cultivated closer ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, at the same time that the Kurdish leadership there is seeking independence. The Arab states used to call Kurdistan a “dagger” that would be a “new Israel” in the region. There is no doubt that part of that newfound support for Kurdistan in the Gulf is due to perceptions that the Kurds can be a bulwark against Iranian power in Iraq and Syria. Some Saudi strategists seek to use Israel and the Kurds as pawns against the Iranian position.

Israel and pro-Israel commentators should therefore not take the Saudi opening as example of some genuine move toward friendship. There is also nothing to celebrate in having relations with Sudan, a pariah state. It is worthwhile to keep in mind that Iran, despite all the negative aspects of its regime, has a cultural heritage more in common with Israel’s in terms of preserving diversity in the region.

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Iran-was-the-ally-Israel-wanted-It-got-Saudi-Arabia-442626

[Blue State Bandit]

1. Makes sense. More sense than the Clinton/Bush alligence me thinks.

[bemildred]

2. Iran or Saudi Arabia makes sense? nt

[DetlefK]

3. There are some things in there that don't make sense.

1. Yes, Wahabi-Islam is a cultural destroyer, but that is more out of a religious refusal to conserve, to prevent idolization.

2. The article does not mention the changes Iran has gone through: from democracy to tyranny to theocracy. Past Israel-Iran-relations shouldn't be taken too seriously. Especially as Israel is now an ally of the US, the destroyer of iranian democracy and arch-enemy of Iran ever since.

3. The absolutely very last thing Turkey wants in the region is legitimization of anything kurdish.

4. The Kurds are Sunni, like Saudi-Arabia, but culturally they have more in common with Iran. It's not clear-cut.



And I see a problem with Israel being heralded as a guarant of diversity... at a time when Israel's policy is oriented towards conquering the Westbank from the Palestinians.

[bemildred]

4. Making sense is trickier than you might think.

1.) Not getting into that.

2.) The current situation traces back to the overthrow of Mossadegh, yes. I think the basic point is that there will be no normalization with Iran (while the current gov't stands, for a looong time) unless the I/P issue is settled. Not likely any time soon as far as I can tell.

3.) One of my criticisms too, but that could change. And Iran has a substantial Kurdish population, too, very handy for destabilization. The idea could grow on them if Iran doesn't behave and Erdogan retires. The Kurds on the other hand would be fools to take them up on it and start and argument with Iran. But if Iran were foolish enough to get aggressive, that would all change.

4.) Yes, and the Kurds are old, like the Persians they have been there a long time.