The Guardian: Israeli Military Chief Wants Closer Saudi Ties as Iran Tensions Rise

Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot affirmed his nation’s commitment to a regional US-backed axis against Iran during an interview with the Saudi newspaper Elaph. Eisenkot described Iran as the major threat for a region destabilized by extremism, autocracies, wars and lack of economic opportunities. According to Eisenkot, Israel could share intelligence with what he called “moderate” Arab states like Saudi Arabia to “deal with” Tehran: “we need to carry out a large, comprehensive strategic plan to stop the Iranian threat.” Tensions run high throughout the region in recent weeks with corruption arrests in Saudi Arabia, the abrupt resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri that was withdrawn after he left Saudi Arabia, and Saudi proclamations against the Lebanese Hezbollah party with claims it is a proxy for Iran. At the same time, the conflict in Yemen between a Saudi-led coalition and Iranian-backed Houthi movement rages on. Eisenkot maintains that Iran is “seeking to take control of the Middle East creating a [Shia] crescent from Lebanon to Iran and then from the Gulf to the Red Sea,” and suggests that Israel and Saudi Arabia could team up to “prevent this from happening.” The hawkish rhetoric only heightens the region’s tensions. – YaleGlobal