I'm a big believer that solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will have ripple effects throughout the region. It will increase the chances of peace between Israel and its other neighbors (Lebanon and Syria); it will take away a major terrorist recruiting tool, and a distraction that oppressive regimes use to avoid discussing their own problems.
But when I hear things like this, from Jordan's King Abdullah, I cringe.
"If we solve the Israeli-Palestinian problem, why would Iran want to spend so much money on a nuclear program? It makes no sense," Abdullah said in a CNN interview with correspondent Fareed Zakaria aired on Sunday.
Practically speaking, this makes no sense. What is Khamenei going to do -- threaten to nuke Israel unless it agrees to create a Palestinian state within 1967 borders? If Iran did that, it would irradiate a large chunk of historic Palestine, rendering it uninhabitable for decades. Not a very effective way to help the Palestinians.
There's no evidence that Iran's nuclear weapons program, if one exists, is motivated by anything other than self-interest -- national pride, perhaps, or a (not unreasonable) sense of insecurity, considering the large American presence on Iran's eastern and western borders and the hostile stance of many countries in the Gulf (and Israel).
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Categories: Iran, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Politics, Proliferation, Regional News
Tags: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Fareed Zakaria, Iranian nuclear program, King Abdullah II
5 Comments
A unitary state of both Jews and Palestinians would likely be able and willing to accept a nuclear-weapons-free region. And Iran would likely join such an agreement.
Israel is the barrier preventing a regional non-proliferation agreement.
to Arnold Evans
This is interesting Arnold, where do you get your evidence?
Where's the proof that Iran's program is for nuclear weapons at all? I'm rather surprised, I usually see objectivity in most posts here.
I've read other sources that say Iran is building nuclear power plants in order to free up more oil for export, and also lessen the import of foreign oil.
A good question -- and unfortunately there's no good answer. Much of the evidence pointing to an Iranian nuclear weapons program, like the so-called laptop of death, is questionable; the IAEA's work on the subject is heavily caveated.
I tend to believe the regime wants the know-how to produce a nuclear bomb, without actually developing a bomb, which is basically in line with the IAEA view. So I don't think it's unfair to say there is an Iranian nuclear weapons program -- but it's more theoretical than practical.
Jonathon:
I'll google you up some links of Iranian officials calling for a nuclear weapons free Middle East if you want. Are you seriously contesting that?
I'll also google you up some links of Israeli officials or parties sympathetic to Israel saying such an agreement is impossible.
I'm puzzled about what specific idea you want me to prove. I thought the statement I made was just common general knowledge about the nuclear issue in the Middle East.
It throws me off as if you asked me to prove the United States supports Israel.
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