IRAN-ISRAEL ENMITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST: UNDERSTANDING THE NORMATIVE BEHAVIOURS

Abstract

This study tries to evaluate the enmity between Iran and Israel in the context of the Middle East. Iran, which is enhancing its role in the region and Israel, which is the only nuclear power in the Middle East, have been in a consistent adversarial relation with each other since the 1979 Revolution of Iran. The intensity of their enmity further consolidated after the collapse of Saddam Regime in Iraq which provided Iran the breathing space in the region. The exploitation of Iraqi political turmoil resulted in Iranian footprints across the region in a manner of encircling Israel. Similarly, Israeli policy of rapprochement with the Gulf States reflected its countermeasure of checkmating Iran. Though the strategy of searching for new allies assisted both Iran and Israel in extending their regional clout yet it also brought them into a conflict with each other due to the intersection of each other’s spheres of influence. Hence, this study highlights those historical experiences which shape the current regional policies of both Iran and Israel particularly in the context of recent Iran-Saudi rapprochement. Simultaneously, this article would assess the dynamics of both Iran and Israel regarding the attainment of their objectives in the Middle East.  

Abbas, Dr. Syed Qandil and Syed Fraz Hussain Naqvi. 2023. "Iran-Israel Enmity in the Middle East: Understanding the Normative Behaviours." Strategic Thought 2023 (5): 81-96.