Is Israel the Loser With Saudi-Iranian Détente?

China just brokered a détente among two countries representing one of the oldest religious rivalries, pegging Sunnim against Shiism, in the history of the world. A feat not to be underestimated. Normalized relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran will have an impact on the whole region of the Middle East as authoritarianism triumphs over democracy and human rights. Under this new rising equation, is Israel the loser as both countries also harbor, for religious reasons, deep enmity towards the state of Israel? Or will this détente also create opportunities for Israel to co-exist peacefully with all the Muslim countries?

Will China be able to extend its reach to mastermind a Jewish-Muslim peace pact as well that would further damage American standing in the whole region? Many people in Israel and elsewhere are probably asking this question today. Many are asking whether the new sheriff in town has discovered the magic formula that eluded American diplomats for decades.

Will Iran, especially, be willing to sit at the same table with Israel to talk peace? These are some of the questions no one dared to ask two years ago. Yet, here we are welcoming a new dawn even though the actors, both accused of atrocities against other human beings, do not represent any vision of where humanity is heading.

Forward with peace, but backward with human rights.

If Saudi Arabia found it in their best interests to abdicate their enmity in favor of a détente, will Iran find the same interests in setting its enmity against the Jewish state aside for the same goals?

THERE IS A NEW AND UNCOMPROMISING ISRAEL

For those who think of Israel in the context of its existence, think of David and Goliath. With Arab countries surrounding Israel as Goliath. The truth is that Israel has grown stronger every year, while Arabs in general, especially Palestinians, have grown weaker.

And although the demographics do not lie, neither do the military facts on the ground. Today, Israel is stronger militarily than all the Arab countries combined, and any threats to its existence are magnified to keep its foot on the pedal with regard to its expansionist goals many in Israel oppose.

If one believes there is an extremist government in Iran that we must fear and stop, the same goes for the new government in Israel today harboring some unsavory characters as cabinet ministers, many of whom are willing to charge into Palestinian civilian villages on the West Bank while brandishing their Uzis. Will Arab rulers and Iran, then, ignore completely the Palestinian plight? Or, will China convince Israel to temper its boiling blood by abandoning its expansionism in return for co-existence? If we are to believe that China is interested in taking another forward and measured step towards aligning the interests of Israel and Iran.

If Saudi Arabia found it in their best interests to abdicate their enmity in favor of a détente, will Iran find the same interests in setting its enmity against the Jewish state aside for the same goals? Honestly, it is hard to see this happen when the leadership of one country wants to annihilate the opposing country.

Time will tell whether we are at the dawn of a new Middle East, or the same rivalries and enmities will continue to cause violence and death regardless of any pact or covenant.

ISRAELI FEARS

What Israel fears the most is both Saudi Arabia and Iran ganging up on her, and today’s extremist government in Israel provides the excuse for such a possibility. That is the unfortunate truth. And even though there is no love lost between a Saudi-Iranian axis and Israel, the policies of both today are almost impossible to overcome. Why? Because of how direct they are in their attempts to destroy each other.

One cannot go overnight from trying to annihilate a country to making peace with it. And one cannot and make peace with a country while aggressively pursuing policies to expand their foot in the territories of other people. Neither wants to stop, and neither is willing to compromise. This kind of extremism is very difficult to tame and conquer.

Be as it may, is Israel the loser with this new Saudi-Iranian détente because it may rally the whole region to stop Israel’s expansionism? Or, will it become in the best interests of Iran to appease the Israelis for some breathing room on the world stage to include sanctions relief?

How will both countries behave going forward may also be independent of their own détente. In other words, Iran will continue to stand behind its aggressive policies towards Israel, and Saudi Arabia will continue to keep its own détente with Israel.

Time will tell whether we are at the dawn of a new Middle East, or the same rivalries and enmities will continue to cause violence and death regardless of any pact or covenant.

Or is China securing long-term oil supplies for its planned invasion of Taiwan?

Is Israel the Loser With Saudi-Iranian Détente?