this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2024
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If Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, was hoping for a honeymoon period after his inauguration last week, he must be sadly disappointed. Less than 12 hours after Pezeshkian was sworn in, an explosion, reportedly caused by a remotely controlled bomb, shook an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound in central Tehran. The target: Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political leader, an honoured guest at the inauguration, and one of the Middle East’s most wanted. The bomb under the bed killed Haniyeh instantly. Honeymoon over.

The Haniyeh assassination, attributed to Israel and not denied in Jerusalem, has scrambled all those hopes. Pezeshkian finds himself in the eye of an international storm that analysts warn could lead to all-out war, engulfing the Middle East.

Infuriated by an audacious attack that humiliated him, his country and its elite armed forces, Khamenei – Iran’s ultimate authority – is said to have ordered preparations for direct military retaliation against Israel. Avenging Haniyeh’s death was “our duty”, Khamenei said. Pezeshkian had no choice but to meekly go along. Now the world waits to see what Iran will do. So much for a fresh start.

Iran’s next step may be decisive in determining whether the Middle East plunges into chaos. Its pivotal position should come as no surprise. Its gradual emergence as the region’s pre-eminent power has accelerated in the wake of 7 October. Iran’s anti-Israeli, anti-American “axis of resistance”, embracing ­militant Islamist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and ever more openly backed by China and Russia, is now a big force challenging the established western-led order.

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[–] JASN_DE 80 points 4 months ago (4 children)

Fucking religious nutjobs...

[–] [email protected] 34 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If you look at it through a geopolitics lens, it makes a lot more sense.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 4 months ago (2 children)

When you see how the geopolitics are fueled directly by multiple clashing religious groups vying for the same land (which is so important because muh ancient texts) it makes even more sense.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (8 children)

Not denying that religion plays a role, but seeing this as sectarian violence doesn't have as much explanatory power as a struggle between competing nationalisms. Simply put, for the vast majority of the people involved, nationalism explains a lot more. And note also of course that nationalism is extremely effective in incorporating and weaponizing religion to its narrative. And the fuel of nationalism is geopolitics.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago (6 children)

How about taking about the elephant in the room that is British + French colonialism plus the establishment of a genocidal apartheid settler colony along with US driven regime changes through funding terrorist groups or just outright invasions?

It’s so damn lazy to blame all of this on religion.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

Both empires dissolved decades ago. The situation in Israel would have gone the way of South Africa or Hong Kong, if it weren't for American mysticism propping it up.

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[–] markon 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

You'd think they'd have moved on by now. Well. Oh well.

[–] JASN_DE 17 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Oh please. The middle east has been and will be religious nutjobs vs. religious nutjobs for ages.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

Don't forget rampant nationalism and outside meddling mixed in.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 4 months ago

The US could, but it would require imposing actual conditions on Israel.

[–] RadioFreeArabia 14 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Killing the negotiator... Zionists never wanted peace, not even in 1923.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago

Fuck me that was horrific.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I guess that motherfucker never took that oath he spoke of.

[–] RadioFreeArabia 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Here's another quote where he was more honest [emphasis mine]:

[It is the] iron law of every colonizing movement, a law which knows of no exceptions, a law which existed in all times and under all circumstances. If you wish to colonize a land in which people are already living, you must provide a garrison on your behalf. Or else – or else, give up your colonization, for without an armed force which will render physically impossible any attempts to destroy or prevent this colonization, colonization is impossible, not “difficult”, not “dangerous” but IMPOSSIBLE! … Zionism is a colonizing adventure and therefore it stands or falls by the question of armed force. It is important to build, it is important to speak Hebrew, but, unfortunately, it is even more important to be able to shoot – or else I am through with playing at colonialization.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ze%27ev_Jabotinsky

Yet, nearly half the comments here blame the Palestinians for the natural response Jabotinsky accurately predicted.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (2 children)

“… a colonizing adventure that stands or falls by the question of armed force.” I hate how unflinchingly this statement was made while the implications of it are terrifying. That is something I simply can’t wrap my head around.

How can people have such callous disregard for humanity?

[–] RadioFreeArabia 7 points 4 months ago

Israeli journalist and author Gideon Levy in 2015 explains how Israelis do it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EtNFXL_ykg

tl;dw: they don't see Palestinians as humans

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Colonialists and imperialists and capitalists in general have been known to say and write this stuff all the time. I watched a video on United Fruit (now Chiquita) that described the military response to protests by Banana growers in the early 20th century that had them describe 'with great delight and satisfaction' (not the exact words, but similar sentiment) after machine guns were fired into the crowds and hundreds were killed or injured.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yes, Iran's lack of direct force projection capability.

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[–] IndustryStandard 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It's not going to be war, Iran has to retaliate but they are not going to escalate things. I would expect a similar response to response for the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria.

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[–] mlg 4 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Still doubt it's gonna escalate tbh.

They say Houthis are an Iranian proxy and yet they've done more to Israel than whatever Iran has tried directly.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago

What's saying that's not intentional? using a proxy to fight a battle is nothing new.

[–] dellish 5 points 4 months ago

Yes. That's how proxies work.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Well, yeah, if you have to do the things yourself and take direct responsibility for them, then your proxies aren't very useful

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