Name? Zachi Ha-Negbi
Westphalian identity? Israeli
Age? 63
Why is he in the news? Because of this statement: “If the US rejoins the nuclear deal, the practical result will be that Israel will again be alone against Iran, which by the end of the deal will have received a green light from the world (…) This of course we will not allow. We’ve already twice done what needed to be done, in 1981 against the Iraqi nuclear program and in 2007 against the Syrian nuclear program,”
Why do we care? Since the US left the Iran Nuclear Deal, Iran has begun enriching more uranium and restarted efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon. Under Trump, Israel showed more strength than in previous years because it could be certain the US would stand by its side (assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh); effectively increasing tensions in the region, as reflected in the statement of Ha-Negbi.
Why should you care?. If this escalates, it will become dirty and deadly, dragging in most of the world. Can we just not in 2021? No need for a large scale conflict in the Middle East right now. So on our How much should you care scale this scores a 6/1o.
Who else cares? Anthony Blinken. The US Secretary of State is an advocate for a new deal with Iran, but at the same time, needs to keep US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia happy. A difficult balance, especially after both countries have had an essentially free hand under Trump. Neither country shows any interest in giving up their stance on Iran, hence the statement from Netanyahu’s buddy Ha-Negbi.
Any further comments? Israel has increased its air raids against Iranian backed forces in the south of Syria. These attacks have diminished the troops and driven them into the arms of another player in the region: Russia. The Russian-backed Fifth Corps seem to have become the go-to faction for these defectors.
