New era in Middle East
Are we on the brink of World War Three? Addressing the global media from Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel yesterday, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Tel Aviv would do “anything necessary to protect the state of Israel at the time and in the way we in Israel choose to do so”.
This comment – one that is frequently deployed by Israel – is code for a general pledge to defend itself against regional aggressors like Iran and its proxies, rather than a specific threat to mount a fresh offensive against the Tehran regime in response to the weekend’s drone and missile barrage.
There were also reports that Benjamin Netanyahu has asked his country’s military to provide a list of Iranian targets for missile strikes to “send a message” rather than cause casualties.
This would seem to be, in effect, an attempt by Israel to save face after Iran’s attack. That’s in the same way that the attack itself was carried out by Tehran in the apparent knowledge that it would be largely thwarted, while being deemed necessary after the killings of Iranian commanders in Damascus this month.
While the latest mood music from Israel may sound relatively reassuring – that the region is not on the brink of an all-out war – it will not quell the frantic diplomatic efforts from the UK, US and other Western and Middle Eastern governments to try to de-escalate the situation.
Lord Cameron is expected to travel to Israel this week to press home the message that restraint is needed.
An urgent meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Capri from tomorrow is expected to see Western governments push for fresh sanctions against Tehran in response to its attack.
These are likely to have a dual intent – not only to warn Iran off further action, but to try to persuade Israel that the international community is trying to rein in Tehran.
Nobody in Whitehall or Washington is being complacent, however. Iran’s attack was the first on Israel from its own territory. Diplomatic insiders acknowledge that we are in a new era in Middle East relations.