Flotilla Fiasco Boon for Iran
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PlurkIsrael fell into a trap with its decision to raid the flotilla bound for Gaza, says Meir Javedanfar. And Iran will reap the benefits.
On June 4, Iranian Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei will lead the Friday prayer’s sermon at Ayatollah Khomeini’s mausoleum to mark the 21st anniversary of Khomeini’s passing.
And, as he looks around him, under his breath, he’ll most probably be thanking the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the Gaza flotilla fiasco. With Khamenei’s own popularity at an all-time low, it couldn’t have come at a better time for him.
The recent developments are likely to boost Iran’s status in the Middle East, especially when it comes to its emerging alliance with Turkey. They will also be a much welcomed distraction from the troubles at home.
Meanwhile, the reports from the ships and the deaths of passengers on the Mavi Marmara will also reinforce the anti-Israeli teachings of Khamenei’s predecessor and mentor, Ruhollah Khomeini, especially amongst hard-line Muslims. It’s true that Israeli soldiers were set upon by metal bars and sticks as soon as they landed on the ships. Such tools could cause grievous bodily harm or even kill.
However, the international community and the Islamic world will have little time for such reasoning. As far as they are concerned, the numbers speak for themselves—ten people were killed by the special forces of a sovereign country on a ship that was reportedly carrying humanitarian aid.
What’s likely to make Tehran particularly happy is the fact that Israel walked into a trap, with its eyes wide open. The Gaza flotilla was the manifestation of the superiority of soft power, against hard power. Hamas lost the 2009 war in Gaza, but with the exposure given to the siege and the approaching flotilla even before it had moved against Israel, it had managed to win the battle for the hearts and minds of millions of non-Arab people around the world.
This is something that Tehran could never do on its own.
There was no way that Israel could have come away from this encounter as the winner—even if the altercations had not occurred (in reality, no country could). To impose a partial siege against one and a half million people is controversial enough. To publicly intercept and pull away a civilian boat that is reportedly carrying aid and hundreds of civilians is difficult for anyone to justify, not just Israel.
What also seems to be helping Israel’s enemies is that when it comes to the Palestinian issue, its operating on an outmoded strategy.
‘He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue and that’s the Chicago way,’ said Jimmy Malone to Elliot Ness in the movie The Untouchables.
Photo Credit: Uniphoto Press
Mehrdad
This is a seriour reminder that the stance the leadership of Israel has opted for since the time of MR. Sharon, has made Israel as a nation lose a great deal of good will amongst those who had sympathy for the situation of the country even if they did not agree with all the policies pursued. I believe until Israel accepts the rights of its Arab citizens as equal, the cycle of violence will continue.
John Hollis
May be the writer of this article and Jenny Berner should be reminded that Israel is an aparthite and occupying force and this is how it will be viewed for ever by the world. Therefore we should say an occupying force using chicago way to get rid of the true owners of the land now is facing the reality of what happens if one become greedy of something that belongs to someone else.
The whole world now despises the mere notion of Isreal for many many atricities including Flotilla and assasination in Dubay that she has commited for land that belongs to someone else. There is another persian expresion that goes “Moon would not stay behind cloud for ever!” In other words, the reality of Isreil is now common knowledge for every ordinary Europian who politely hide their true feeling about Isreal until the time is right.
As for mr Javedanfar, my suggestion is that he should stop selling himself so cheap. that is if he is still proud of his country. Although i am not by any means supporter of present regime in Iran for obvious reasons, but I have learnt over the years that unfortunately Iran has no shortage of trators!
Jenny Berner
What Chicago way re: Israel and the Palestinians? While you have a point re: Israel’s sinking stock on the world stage, do not mislead your readers because of your long-standing animus of the Israeli center right government. Israel has over the many long years reached out to the Palestinians time and again attempting to make peace with a non partner that refuses it’s right to exist in safe and secure borders. There has been no Chicago about this.
Roderick
Israel could not win this one but at least they gave warning of what would happen.
I cannot beleive that the free world accepts that this was not a muslam plot to turn the west against Israel. Try living with enamies all around you and see if you aree happy to let potential terrorists through your line of defence. Wake up free people or you will surely re-live the past.