A recent military exchange between Israel and Iran has brought attention to the strong historical connection between the Jewish people and Persia, dating back to Cyrus the Great’s liberation of the Jewish community in Mesopotamia. The 2500th anniversary of Cyrus’ establishment of the Persian empire in 1971 was celebrated by the Shah of Iran with a lavish party, which marked a turning point that eventually led to the Iranian Revolution a few years later. By this time, over 100,000 Jews were living in Iran, many of whom would later leave for Israel, including members of the Israeli government.
The recent conflict between Israel and Iran highlights the issue of elites in both countries, with Iran’s theocratic elite disconnected from its people and reliant on tensions with Israel for political gain, and Israel’s government veering to the extreme right. The importance of strong, functioning democracies is emphasized, with concerns raised about the erosion of democratic values by leaders such as Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. In a world where bad actors can easily undermine other states, the US and EU face challenges in repairing diplomatic damage, while China’s lack of effort in improving international relations is cause for concern.
The current geopolitical landscape is complicated by emerging technology and the threat of military exchanges between nuclear armed states. The potential for a world arms race is heightened by advances in drone warfare, the use of AI in military systems, and the evolution of covert warfare. The formation of clear alliances among nations is becoming more apparent, urging Israel to seek normalization of relations with Gulf states and Saudi Arabia, and emphasizing the importance of Jordan’s role in the region.
Amidst the military exchange between Israel and Iran, the plight of Gazans facing a deepening famine has been overshadowed. A durable peace process that involves diplomatic realignment in the region is crucial for the well-being of the people of Gaza. The wider global community, particularly emerging nations in the ‘Global South’, must pay attention to the increasing dangers in the world and resist the temptation to engage in military escalation. It is important for nations to work towards diplomatic solutions and prevent a potential existential event caused by military conflict between nuclear armed states.
