Rumbling Middle East Fault Lines

[+joc]

By Jeremy Bowen

BBC international editor

 

If this Gaza war was like all the others, a ceasefire would probably have been in force by now.    link

The dead would be buried and Israel would be arguing with the United Nations about how much cement could come into Gaza for rebuilding.

But this war is not like that. It is not just because of the enormity of the killing, first by Hamas on 7 October, mostly of Israeli civilians, followed by Israel's "mighty vengeance" as its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it, which has mostly killed Palestinian civilians.

This war is different to the others because it comes at a time when the fault lines that divide the Middle East are rumbling. For at least two decades, the most serious rift in the region's fractured geopolitical landscape has been between the friends and allies of Iran, and the friends and allies of the United States.

The core of Iran's network, sometimes called the "axis of resistance", is made up of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Assad regime in Syria, the Houthis in Yemen and assorted Iraqi militias that are armed and trained by Iran. The Iranians have also supported Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

Iran is also getting closer to Russia and China. Iran has become a significant part of Russia's war effort in Ukraine. China buys a great deal of Iranian oil.

The longer the war in Gaza goes on, and as Israel kills more Palestinian civilians and destroys tens of thousands of homes, the greater the risk of conflict involving some members of those two camps.

[acidhead]

USA/China Summit tomorrow 

Xi will be in San Francisco November 14-17.  

 

 

 

[+and-then]

2 hours ago, joc said:

The longer the war in Gaza goes on, and as Israel kills more Palestinian civilians and destroys tens of thousands of homes, the greater the risk of conflict involving some members of those two camps.

Israel is at war.  They have every right to continue until Hamas is finished.  It is NOT the fault or responsibility of Israel that these demons hide behind their own.  Let the "civilized" world howl in rage as much as they like.  ALL OF THEM know that Israel is telling the truth, they just don't give a damn because, "Israel".

  ANY OF THEM would do exactly the same as Israel, faced with the same threat.  In fact, they'd have never waited this long to end a terror group that has been killing their people for years.  If Iran chooses to unleash the Hizballah, Israel has the right to turn Lebanon into the same rubble that Gaza is in now.  Iran's mullahs have no respect for the complicit tools in DC so Israel needs to ignore them as well.  

ETA - My passion on this topic makes me sound accusatory at times.  That comment wasn't aimed at you, OP.

Edited November 14, 2023 by and-then

[+joc]

6 hours ago, and-then said:

ETA - My passion on this topic makes me sound accusatory at times.  That comment wasn't aimed at you, OP.

I know it wasn't. This article just articulates what I have already been saying and illustrates my point that other players have a versed interest in it's outcome.

8 hours ago, joc said:

Iran is also getting closer to Russia and China. Iran has become a significant part of Russia's war effort in Ukraine. China buys a great deal of Iranian oil.

The bolded part of the quote above, from the article, is what makes me think attacking Israel was a joint plan and decision on the part of Iran and Russia.

[+joc]

7 hours ago, acidhead said:

USA/China Summit tomorrow 

Xi will be in San Francisco November 14-17.  

 

 

 

Interesting!🤔

[Raptor Witness]

17 hours ago, joc said:

Interesting!🤔

The only thing “interesting” about it, is you stretching your mind long enough to say the word. 

[+joc]

9 hours ago, Raptor Witness said:

The only thing “interesting” about it, is you stretching your mind long enough to say the word. 

Thank you for being so hateful! 😎 Your Mama would be very proud of your excellent conversational skills and lack of respect for other people.