Historical Background:
Nebuchadnezzar's actions in 586 BC: Destroyed the first Jewish temple, sacked the Jewish kingdom of Judea, and took its citizens captive to Babylonia.
Description of Nebuchadnezzar as the "Destroyer of Nations" in Jewish scripture.
Long-standing Enmity:
26 centuries of animosity between Jews and Persians, with a brief period of alliance during the Pahlavi era in Iran.
Restoration of hostility with the advent of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
Iran's denunciation of Israel as the "smaller Satan" and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.
Israel's view of Iran as an existential threat and vow to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Historical reliance on non-state proxies by both Iran and Israel to pursue their agendas.
Recent Direct Confrontation:
Prior shadow boxing and indirect hostilities between Iran and Israel.
Escalation to direct exchanges of projectiles in April, marking a new phase in their conflict.
Suspected airstrike on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus, followed by Iranian retaliation and Israeli counterattacks.
Factors Fueling Hostility:
Historical, religious, and geopolitical factors contributing to Israel-Iran animosity.
Role of the Zionist movement, Balfour Declaration, Jewish migration to Palestine, and conflicts with local Arabs.
Impact of the Holocaust on Jewish migration to Palestine.
UN resolution on the partition of Palestine in 1947 and subsequent Israeli occupation.
Creation of the anti-Israel "axis of resistance" by Iran, comprising Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis.
Religious and Cultural Significance:
Impact of historical events like the victory at Khayber on Arab perceptions of Jews.
Chants invoking Khayber in anti-Israel demonstrations.
Iran's missile named "Khaybar" with the capability to hit Israel.
Iran's efforts to foster Shia loyalties across the region.
Strategic Motives of Iran and Israel:
Iran's aim to delay nuclear weapon capability by engaging Israel in wars of attrition.
Israel's strategy of swift, decisive wars leveraging superior U.S. armaments.
Israel's territorial ambitions limited to specific regions.
Israel's current conflict with Hamas following an attack on October 7.
Concerns of Arab and Muslim Regimes:
Fear of being drawn into a conflict between Iran and Israel.
Concerns about regional instability disrupting oil production and economic stability.
Diplomatic moves by Saudi Arabia and Iran to secure regional alliances for security.
Potential Impact on India:
Impact on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "act west" policy.
Economic implications, including an expected oil price surge and insecurity for Indian expatriates in West Asia.
Impact on multilateral initiatives involving India, Israel, and other countries.
Domestic ramifications for India due to its large Muslim population and potential sectarian tensions.
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