- The global community by now must be wringing its hands in great frustration and despair over how the Israel-US-Iran war is panning out, with the neighbouring countries also feeling the heat because of the conflict getting extended as a natural consequence. It’s been months since the irrational, illogical, and irrelevant war started by the US-Israel duo on Iran. The immediate fallout of the war was the disruption of vital energy supplies for the whole world. The prices of petroleum products have steadily headed northwards, with none of the countries left unaffected by the mayhem unleashed. Despite concerted efforts by all stakeholders to usher in much-needed peace, the fragile truce here and there hasn’t been effective at all.
PC: RNZ
- Donald Trump’s erratic, petulant, and impetuous statements on the war/truce/peace have only led to more confusion rather than soothing the nerves of the whole universe. The Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been hawkish right through the conflict. As such, Trump should call out Netanyahu publicly for prolonging the conflict. Since he holds the card, it’s time Trump uses it with intent. Trump’s reported expletive-ridden phone call with Netanyahu, although Tel Aviv denies any personal attacks from the American president, shows how complicated the US-Israel relationship has become in the context of the Iran war. Trump publicly still maintains an image of coordination with the Israelis. But the cracks are showing up.
PC: Quillette
- It’s apparent Tel Aviv’s goals for this war are vastly different from Washington’s. The latter, despite Trump’s contradictory messaging, can be boiled down to denying Iran a nuclear bomb. The former seemingly aim to reorient the West Asian geopolitical landscape in favour of Israel. Hence, Tel Aviv appears to be following a three-pronged approach – hit Iran to weaken the regime and its regional sinews, make it impossible to have a viable Palestine state, and create a buffer zone with Lebanon. The problem is manifold, with serious economic pain for the world due to the Iranian closure of Hormuz. Tel Aviv doesn’t seem to care. And when an Israeli PM seemingly appears to give short shrift to an American president on ending the war, the world suffers.
PC: alhurra.com
- Let’s look at the simple equation unfolding here. Iran wants an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. Lebanon wants a stop to the war that has killed more than 3400 of its residents. Palestinians, who have suffered tremendously, want their nightmare to end forthwith. Hamas and Hezbollah are hugely weakened and battered. Yet, Netanyahu pursues policies that seem to sync with Israeli radicals dreaming of Greater Israel. Indeed, Trump now has two problems: the Ayatollahs and Netanyahu. Tehran, with its Hormuz chokehold, is willing to wait for what it sees as a fair deal. Bibi is increasingly a stumbling block to peace and global stability. That’s bad for Trump and the world. Perhaps it’s time for Trump to publicly call out his pal on this.
