Giving unheard-of assent to Saudi nuclearization, Israel girds for Cold War with Iran

Giving unheard-of assent to Saudi nuclearization, Israel girds for Cold War with Iran

The Times of Israel -Oct 5th2023

Every day seems to bring a new advance in the fast-moving American effort to build a Saudi-Israeli alliance in the Middle East.

The Israeli and Saudi interest in such a partnership is obvious. The two countries share an implacable, expansionist foe and offer each other unique advantages in facing that foe. Should an Israeli-Saudi deal be sealed, the two countries will owe much to Tehran for so expertly driving them into each other’s arms.

Iran overplayed its hand, banged too loudly on the drums of war throughout the region. While Iranian leaders have tried to warn Saudi Arabia away from the deal, Tehran has by its own hand and over many years convinced the Saudis that there is no peace to be found in a detente with the Islamic Republic, that Tehran seeks dominion over the region, is willing to demolish countries along the way, and can only be contained by strength – the kind of strength possessed by the Israelis.

Iran’s regional policy is all sticks and no carrots, while Israel offers potential allies a surfeit of carrots: economic, technological and diplomatic. Unlike distant powers like America or local fence-sitters like Qatar, the Jewish state is also a reliable ally in the simple sense that it can neither withdraw from the region nor remain neutral in the great regional contest. For the Saudis, it’s hard to think of a regional ally against Iran that is as powerful, reliable, unthreatening and grateful as Israel.

And Iranian belligerence has now made it indispensable.

Of course, there are other, less urgent factors driving the Israelis and Saudis together. Saudi Arabia is flush with cash and a desire to diversify its economy beyond energy. Little Israel is overflowing with innovative companies that could achieve a great deal with an influx of Saudi cash.

And the Saudis have already gained much just by dangling the possibility of a rapprochement with Israel. Three years ago, the Saudi government was persona non grata in America, especially among Democrats. Now, Riyadh has come in from the cold in Washington. Before actually giving anything to the Americans, it has already won a new lease on life as America’s ally.

And what of Israel’s interests? There’s the obvious: the most powerful Sunni state as an open ally against the Jewish state’s greatest foe, with all the military and intelligence cooperation that entails.