Israel and Iran: A Dangerous Rivalry

by Dalia Dassa Kaye, Alireza Nader, Parisa Roshan

Israel and Iran have come to view each other as direct regional rivals over the past decade, with Iran viewing Israel as being bent on undermining Iran's revolutionary system and Israel viewing Iran as posing grave strategic and ideological challenges to the Jewish state. But the two countries have not always been rivals. Both before and after the 1979 Islamic revolution, shared geopolitical interests led to years of pragmatic policies and, at times, extensive cooperation. But the growing rivalry between them has intensified in recent years, particularly with the rise of principlist (fundamentalist) leaders in Iran and the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran. Israeli leaders now view every regional threat through the prism of Iran, even if their strategic community is divided about how to address this challenge and particularly the utility of a military strike option. Iran, which currently views Israel in more ideological and less pragmatic terms, may be emboldened to further challenge Israel if it has a nuclear weapons capability. The United States can help manage this rivalry by focusing on policies aimed at prevention and preparation. This means discouraging an Israeli military strike while bolstering Israeli capabilities in preparation for a future where Iran has managed to acquire nuclear weapons. For Iran, this means dissuading that regime from weaponizing its nuclear program and, if that fails, making preparations to deter it from brandishing or using its weapons.

116 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Mehmet Koç · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main argument of the authors is as following, but too unrealistic and biased under the current Middle Eastern circumstances:

"Iran and Israel are not natural rivals; they do not border each other and do not compete for resources. Iran’s national security interests are focused on the Persian Gulf region rather than on the Levant. Its main regional rivals have consisted of Baathist Iraq and Wahhabi Saudi Arabia rather than Israel. Indeed, it is not too farfetched to assume that Iran and Israel can one day become allies
again, rather than direct rivals. (pp.77)"

[KV · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reads on Israel, Iran & US relationship.