Yoni Ben Menachem's Blog - נושא: Israel

A serious blow to the position of the US in the Middle East

11 March 2023

The agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia on the renewal of relations between them is a severe blow to the position of the US in the Middle East and strengthening the position of China as a new and active player in this arena.

The agreement will not affect Iran’s race to obtain the nuclear bomb and Israel’s efforts to thwart the Iranian goal, but the agreement may harm Israel’s chances of expanding the Abraham Accords to other countries, including Saudi Arabia.

Strong tensions in the Iranian leadership

10 March 2023

Tensions at the top of the Iranian regime are increasing due to the difficult economic situation and Supreme Leader Khamenei accuses President Ibrahim Raisi of being responsible for the deterioration of the situation.
Khamenei expresses regret over Iran’s military rapprochement with Russia and Iranian commentators estimate that he may try to return to the nuclear talks to reduce friction with the US and the European Union.

Iran continues to deceive the world

9 March 2023

Iran is getting closer to the nuclear bomb and at the same time it continues to deceive the international community.
The US must put on the table a credible military option for attacking the nuclear facilities in Iran to deter the Iranian leadership from progressing towards the nuclear bomb.

Iran is strengthening its control over the Islamic Jihad

8 March 2023

The Islamic Jihad movement finished the process of internal elections and elected Ziyad Al-Nakhala for a second term as the movement’s secretary general.
Ziyad Al-Nakhala is the representative of Iran and his victory in the internal elections guarantees the continuation of Iran’s control of the movement which is the second largest terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip and which has established a large outpost for itself in the north of the West Bank.

The American security plan is destined to fail

7 March 2023

Senior officials in Fatah claim that the American security plan to restore security in the West Bank is destined to fail and the PA will not be able to carry it out.
The events in Hawara severely damaged the prospects for security coordination between Israel and the PA and the calming of the area, and Hamas continues to heat up the atmosphere ahead of Ramadan.

The Hawara and Aqaba events weakened the PA

6 March 2023

The meeting in Aqaba and the events in Hawara earned the PA international support but weakened its position even more on the Palestinian street.

The PA is examining the possibility of returning to the method of establishing guard committees in villages and towns to deal with the settlers.

American Israeli coordination towards the possibility of regional escalation

4 March 2023

The Biden administration fears regional escalation following Iran’s approach to its first nuclear bomb.
The surprise visit of the US Secretary of Defense to the region is intended to tighten the security and political coordination of the US with its allies in the Middle East and Israel.

Iran is approaching the red line

3 March 2023

Israel and the US are concerned about Iran’s rapid approach to the ability to produce its first nuclear bomb and its tightening of military ties with Russia.
Washington demands that Netanyahu calm down the situation in the Palestinian arena and in the political arena in Israel as a condition for reaching an understanding on the Iranian danger. Netanyahu is expected to align himself with the Biden administration

Terrorism is spreading to Tulkarm

2 March 2023

The Palestinian terrorist octopus continues to send arms to the north of the West Bank and has also reached the city of Tulkarm.
The PA has not yet begun to implement the American security plan to fight terrorism, it will take a few months and Israel will have to deal with the armed terrorist groups on its own.

Fear of the collapse of the Aqaba meeting understandings

1 March 2023

Egypt, Jordan and the PA fear the collapse of the results of the security meeting in Aqaba and that Israel will not keep the promises it made during the meeting. Senior officials in Israel say that the fear is that the PA will not fight against terrorism and that the expected attacks towards the month of Ramadan are the ones that could torpedo the understandings reached at the meeting.