Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu generally spends his time in Jerusalem running the government. He occasionally takes trips abroad to discuss the peace process or the Iranian threat with allied governments, such as the recent visit to the United States. Today, the Prime Minister’s Office’s official schedule placed on him on a tour of a military installation before a scheduled meeting journalists. However, the PMO cancelled the 9 p.m. meeting and speculation is swirling about why. And the answer might be real news and not just the fantasy of conspiracy theorists.
Palestinian newspaper Al-Manar reported today that Netanyahu travelled to an unnamed Arab capital with no official ties to Israel in order to discuss the Iranian threat and a regional strategy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear device. Netanyahu reportedly met with two Arab leaders
Many of the other governments in the region fear an Iranian nuclear program because it would shift the power dynamic towards the non-Arab, Shiite Iranian regime. Moreover, the program could spark an arms race in the region that would force other countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, to begin their own nuclear programs.
Earlier this summer, reports suggested that the Israeli military secured approval from Saudi Arabia to use its airspace in order to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities. The alleged meeting could have secured the deal and initiated preparations for an Israeli aerial strike on Iran.
Some analysts contend that the Iranian government’s threats against Israel are actually concealed intimidation of other regional enemies such as Saudi Arabia. The threat mirrors a concept in Shiite Islam, Taqiyya, that permits deception in order to protect oneself and one’s interests. Therefore, when Iranian officials declare the need to wipe Israel off the map, they are sending a veiled hint towards the other regional governments that any nuclear weapon could target them as well.
Meanwhile, the U.S. imposed deadline on Iran to begin negotiations with the West seems to have produced nothing.
The next step in the Iranian nuclear saga is any one’s guess.
It is certain, however, that all the anti-Iran factions in the Middle East will coordinate a strategy to combat the rogue Iranian government from obtaining nuclear capabilities. That cooperation will assuredly include Israel and countries with no diplomatic ties to it.
Map taken from here.