'Israel's Strikes on Iran Will Have Consequences for Decades and Threaten the Entire Middle East'
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Even during the 2003 Iraq war, the people of the Middle East did not appear to feel as terrified and alarmed as they have been since Israel's aggression against Iran kicked off on 12 June.
What is extraordinary is that this is barely reflected in the western media obsessed with the threat to Israel or western interests.
Many American and European actors appear to have forgotten the horrors of war, and even the lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan. But the people of the Middle East who have endured so many forever wars, often promoted by western powers, have a very sharp understanding of the ugliness of conflict and how their consequences last decades.
It is the people of the region who are on the frontline with the most to lose. Iranian and Israeli civilians are scared, with no idea how this ends? Civilian infrastructure is being smashed. The death count mounts daily.
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Martin Burns
But above all, Israel has not halted its atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza, where more die every day than in Israel and Iran. They are still being bombed and starved as Israel's genocide continues. Palestinians, not their Israeli settler neighbours, are under lockdown in the West Bank, with its economy on the brink of collapse. How long will that lockdown last?
Israel, and in particular Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appears out of control, unwilling even to listen to its allies. Israel has been bombing Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen with no consequence, and now Iran.
US President Donald Trump has given him the green light.
The Iranian regime has its own awful record, backing the Assad regime for decades, and undermining the security of Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Palestine and elsewhere. Neither Israeli nor Iranian governments have demonstrated respect for civilian life or human rights of others. International law is simply not at the races.
The fact that Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity is glossed over in the US and Europe, but in the Middle East everyone is aware of the double standard and the threat he poses.
Residents in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are scared that this war could spread. If the US does get involved, then Iran might target its neighbours across the Gulf in retaliation, or try to block the straights of Hormuz where 20% of the world's oil passes. Iran has an extensive network of sleeper agents across the region who could be activated.
The Nuclear Fear
Another major fear is nuclear fallout from attacks on Iranian nuclear infrastructure on air and water. Iran has a nuclear reactor on the Gulf at Bushehr. What happens if Israel decides to destroy it? The Israeli leadership has not categorically ruled out striking Bushehr. Fallout could hit GCC states, including contaminating sea water vital for their desalination plants.
The leadership in GCC states are acutely aware of this. Many of them are not historically friendly with Iran but have a working relationship. Some might like the Iranian regime to be weakened but not at the risk of wider conflagration, hence they condemned the Israeli strikes.
Oman, which hosted the US-Iran talks, was the first to do so referring to Israel's "barbaric military attack" on Iran. Nearly every government outside of Israel wanted the US-Iran talks to reach successful conclusion, so blame Netanyahu for having bombed the negotiations out of existence.
Inside the Collapse: How Putin's Russia Turned Its Opponents into Exiles
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Packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, and features…
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Even during the 2003 Iraq war, the people of the Middle East did not appear to feel as terrified and alarmed as they have been since Israel's aggression against Iran kicked off on 12 June.
What is extraordinary is that this is barely reflected in the western media obsessed with the threat to Israel or western interests.
Many American and European actors appear to have forgotten the horrors of war, and even the lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan. But the people of the Middle East who have endured so many forever wars, often promoted by western powers, have a very sharp understanding of the ugliness of conflict and how their consequences last decades.
It is the people of the region who are on the frontline with the most to lose. Iranian and Israeli civilians are scared, with no idea how this ends? Civilian infrastructure is being smashed. The death count mounts daily.
Americans Oppose Trump Joining Israel-Iran War and Do Not See the Iranian Nuclear Program as an Immediate Threat
New polling suggests that voters do not want the President to further involve the US in the Middle East conflict
Martin Burns
But above all, Israel has not halted its atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza, where more die every day than in Israel and Iran. They are still being bombed and starved as Israel's genocide continues. Palestinians, not their Israeli settler neighbours, are under lockdown in the West Bank, with its economy on the brink of collapse. How long will that lockdown last?
Israel, and in particular Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appears out of control, unwilling even to listen to its allies. Israel has been bombing Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen with no consequence, and now Iran.
US President Donald Trump has given him the green light.
The Iranian regime has its own awful record, backing the Assad regime for decades, and undermining the security of Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Palestine and elsewhere. Neither Israeli nor Iranian governments have demonstrated respect for civilian life or human rights of others. International law is simply not at the races.
The fact that Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity is glossed over in the US and Europe, but in the Middle East everyone is aware of the double standard and the threat he poses.
Residents in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are scared that this war could spread. If the US does get involved, then Iran might target its neighbours across the Gulf in retaliation, or try to block the straights of Hormuz where 20% of the world's oil passes. Iran has an extensive network of sleeper agents across the region who could be activated.
The Nuclear Fear
Another major fear is nuclear fallout from attacks on Iranian nuclear infrastructure on air and water. Iran has a nuclear reactor on the Gulf at Bushehr. What happens if Israel decides to destroy it? The Israeli leadership has not categorically ruled out striking Bushehr. Fallout could hit GCC states, including contaminating sea water vital for their desalination plants.
The leadership in GCC states are acutely aware of this. Many of them are not historically friendly with Iran but have a working relationship. Some might like the Iranian regime to be weakened but not at the risk of wider conflagration, hence they condemned the Israeli strikes.
Oman, which hosted the US-Iran talks, was the first to do so referring to Israel's "barbaric military attack" on Iran. Nearly every government outside of Israel wanted the US-Iran talks to reach successful conclusion, so blame Netanyahu for having bombed the negotiations out of existence.
Inside the Collapse: How Putin's Russia Turned Its Opponents into Exiles
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