By Nana Kwasi Roka
Nationaltymes.com
THE LONG-BREWING hostility between Israel and Iran has in recent years moved beyond veiled threats and proxy engagements to direct strikes, covert assassinations, and open missile launches – stirring fresh fears of a regional war that could escalate into global instability.
But how did the conflict between the Jewish State – Israel and the Islamic Republic – Iran become one of the most combustible rivalries in modern geopolitics? Who is truly at fault and can peace ever be a possibility?
Iran’s Revolutionary Rejection of Israel
Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran’s rulers have built their foreign policy – partly around an unyielding rejection of Israel’s right to exist. The late Ayatollah Khomeini – Iranian Leader, declared Israel a “cancerous tumor” that must be eradicated – a sentiment echoed by their successive leaders.
● Iran refuses to recognize Israel diplomatically, labels it only as “the Zionist regime,” and supports armed resistance against it. From funding and arming groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, to backing Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Iran positions itself as the vanguard of the Palestinian cause — even if it comes at the cost of regional peace.
● Tehran insists its actions are defensive and in support of “liberation movements.” But for Israel, these are nothing less than acts of war.
Israel: The Aggressive Defender
For Israel, Iran’s open hostility, funding of militant groups and suspected nuclear ambitions represent an existential threat. The Jewish state, with the memory of the Holocaust seared into its national consciousness, takes Iran’s rhetoric literally – and reacts with military precision.
Over the years, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes inside Syria, targeting Iranian weapons shipments and military installations. In 2024, it launched a controversial strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard officials – triggering a wave of Iranian missiles in retaliation.
Although Israel has not formally declared war on Iran, it has waged a shadow war through cyberattacks, sabotage operations and intelligence missions deep inside Iranian territory.
Proxy Battlefields and Escalating Tensions
Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and Iraq have all become proxy battlegrounds in this cold war-turned-hot. Iran uses these areas to surround Israel with hostile forces, while Israel retaliates with surgical strikes to disrupt Iranian entrenchment.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 civilians, was seen by Israel as evidence of Iran’s growing footprint – though Iran denied direct involvement. Iran, in turn, views Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian lands and treatment of Palestinians as justification for “resistance.”
Assigning Blame: A Complex Equation
So, who is at fault? The answer is not black and white. Iran is the ideological aggressor, refusing Israel’s right to exist and fueling hostility through proxy militias and inflammatory rhetoric.
Israel is the military aggressor, often choosing preemptive or retaliatory strikes that cross borders and escalate tensions.
Both nations bear responsibility – but in different ways. One fights through ideology and proxies, the other through direct military action and covert operations.
The Way Forward: Is Peace Possible Between Israel and Iran?
Despite decades of animosity, proxy wars and rising tensions, many regional experts and diplomats believe that peace – or at least peaceful coexistence – is still possible. But it will require bold steps, mutual compromise and third-party mediation. Here are some realistic pathways to de-escalation:
1. Backchannel Diplomacy
Just as the U.S. and Iran reached a nuclear agreement in 2015 (JCPOA) through secret talks, similar backchannel efforts between Israel and Iran – perhaps facilitated by neutral countries like Oman, Qatar, or Switzerland – could establish direct communication to prevent escalation.
2. Regional Security Dialogue
A Middle East Security Forum, involving Iran, Israel, Gulf States and international actors, could create space for structured discussion on mutual threats like extremism, arms proliferation and climate change. A reinvigorated Arab Peace Initiative might serve as a starting point.
3. Revising the Iran Nuclear Deal
A new nuclear agreement, with tighter monitoring and reciprocal commitments, could reduce mistrust. In return for Iran freezing its enrichment, Israel might agree to join regional disarmament talks – boosting transparency.
4. Addressing the Palestinian Issue
Iran’s primary justification for hostility is support for Palestinians. Progress toward a genuine two-state solution could disarm Tehran’s ideological leverage and help moderate voices gain ground across the Muslim world.
5. Civil Society Engagement
People-to-people diplomacy – through cultural exchange, academic collaboration and peace forums – has already connected some Iranians and Israelis. These bridges can challenge state-driven narratives and nurture long-term reconciliation.
6. Global Power Mediation
Major powers – the U.S., EU, China and Russia – must apply balanced pressure on both countries to halt escalations, avoid proxy conflict and respect international law. But they must avoid turning the conflict into a Cold War-style standoff between blocs.
Conclusion: Choosing the Path of Peace
If left unchecked, the Israel–Iran conflict risks dragging the wider Middle East – and potentially the world – into broader war. Diplomacy may be difficult, but the cost of failure is far greater.
For every drone strike and missile retaliation, trust erodes further. Yet, with courage, vision and international support, the region can pivot from perpetual war toward a new era of cautious coexistence.
In this decades-long standoff between ideology and survival, the question is no longer who is right – but who is ready to choose peace.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
