Opinion  Dr. Yaron Friedman
Saudis' choice: Iran or Israel
Dr. Yaron Friedman
Published: 11.12.13, 20:52
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26 Talkbacks for this article
1. Wahabis, Salafis, Al Qaeda are a product of Saudi education
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (12.11.13)
2. I totally agree with this article
Samar ,   Saudi   (12.11.13)
3. They have oil, we've got brains: a match made in Heaven(this
tom ,   tel aviv   (12.11.13)
could be)....Inshallah!
4. Saudis choise is EU !.
Arn. ,   Sweden.   (12.12.13)
5. Iran should not be difficult to handle
Fahd Najjad Alharbi ,   Madina ,KSA   (12.11.13)
Good article although one can take a slightly different view on Abdulaziz Gasem editorial . The Iranian hegemonic intentions are unmistakable wher dthe Iranians think the only way torove it to the region is through standing up to Israel .Moreover , the Iranian current thinking is that there is convergence between the nationalistic and the religious , but that will likely change again once the religious revolution reaches its final destination of failure . The way to undo Iran is really easy , it was tried with the much more powerful USSR in Afghanistan : bleed them in Syria , Ot is instructive that within the first year of the real war , they tried to alter the course ( they blinked ) , it is sad for the Syrian people , but the way forward is to engage Iran and Hizb Allah gradually into the Syrian morass for onther 2/3. Years , step two, continue the selective assists nation like the once last week , it was brilliant , and inttilligence ( remember when Khomeni came to drink poison and agree with Saddam ) The startegic imperative is well understood , the tools are available. And not too expensive , the certainty of success and the risks are manageable .
6. Iranian ...
Lebanese 2 ,   usa   (12.12.13)
Khomeini regime A terrorist organization expanding in middle east true terrorist group like Hezboy's and others , they took over part of Iraq , Lebanon, and Syria, Assad !! history , soon they will have nuke. All that happen because some world leaders have eye but can't see , have ear but can't hear , WORTHLESS
7. Dr. Friedman is mistaken to believe that
Chas. ,   Los Angeles   (12.12.13)
that the United States and Europe do not know that Iran is intent on becoming a nuclear power. There are no other options to prevent it other than all out war and no one but Israel and some of the Sunni states want that.
8. Oh the holocaust!
Rabbi Hitler   (12.12.13)
Iran is going to get a nuke, it's practically another holocaust! must be prevented! NEVAR FORGET!
9. Mental problems
Curtis ,   USA   (12.12.13)
Considering how much the Jewish people have contributed to technology and how they have created a veritable island of stability in the Middle East even for Palestinian residents, anyone who doesn't like Israel sure has mental problems.
10. This article takes a LONG time to say very little new...
Rafi ,   US   (12.12.13)
It could have been edited by half...
11. choice - Iran or Israel
Harold ,   USA   (12.12.13)
That's what George W. Bush said 'EITHER YOU ARE WITH US OR THE ANEMY". Is George back.
12. I dream of a strategic alliance between Israel and the Gulf
Yosef ben Israel   (12.12.13)
States. When I thought about I, unconsciously, overvalued the reasons for that but this good paper just show me that it is not that simple and maybe impossible for now. I am still convinced that the future of Israel is in a united Middle-East. The alliance with the western world is good but not at the price of a divorce from Israel with the Arabian peninsula.
13. I would have nothing to do with any of these countries
Mark ,   London   (12.12.13)
They are all pretty miserable and, as far as I can make out, have no redeeming features at all.
14. peace - justice
peace.justice   (12.12.13)
the judaism of mecca and medina was the inspiration to liberate the poor arabs from their oppressive rulers. it would be good to return to the roots to pursue modernized justice and equality. without theological conflicts, enlightened jews and muslims can live, work, study together.
15. #14, Start from the beginning
Jake   (12.12.13)
There weren't Jews in Mecca, but pagan Arab tribes. The Jewish community were in Medina, and they refused to accept Muhammad's new doctrine, and the result was anything but "peace and justice".
16. #9:You're totally right, the malady is called antisemitism
tom ,   tel aviv   (12.12.13)
and it runs deep in human DNA. Seems nothing is able eradicate it, except maybe a Jewish State that everyone fears! Might makes right (oil does too).
17. "The Love Match"..not Suzanne Lenglen's book, but the suppo
Austin ,   Canada   (12.12.13)
The whole business about Iran being nuclear for peaceful purposes is bogus and fraudulent. It should not even be considered as being anything else. If it were peaceful, there would have been no need for the deep under-mountains reinforced facilities. Also, if it were peaceful, there would be no need for work on plutonium reactors. So it's obvious that Obama and the American Houses of Congress, being, supposedly a little more intelligent than the average citizen, would have known about this all along. I take that back, becuase the real facts are obvious to a large part of the population whilst the government is still slogging away at outdated and irrelevant nonsense.
18. always i have a choice
salma ,   ...............   (12.12.13)
to milion choices who do not fit it is to say no becouse i believe that there is a god and there is a way of right
19. Iran or Israel?
graczek ,   Maryland, USA   (12.12.13)
Iran is the obvious choice for Saudi Arabia. It is and shall be the strong horse that soon will dominate the Middle East. Israel will devolve to a historical memory, and an unpleasant one at that.
20. #1 not mine.
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (12.12.13)
21. Ishmael and Itzchak buried Avraham
Lemmings Hotline ,   sd usa   (12.13.13)
The fact that Ishmael reformed himself at the end of his life may be a sign of how the arabs will reform themselves. They will eventually realize that their account of the binding of Ishmael was predated by the Torah's account (of the binding of Itzchak) by 2000 years. Could it be that the Torah was wrong for 2000 years and then came the Koran and set everything straight. No, one day they will collectively admit that there were mistakes made, just like their forefather did.
22. Israel is the eternal enemy
Ezra ,   San Diego   (12.13.13)
Abdul Aziz Qassim is clearly 7th century brainwashed. Only HaShem could wire the Arab brain with such empty-minded thoughts. On a news note: this article is announcing the beginning of nuclear proliferation in the middle east. Good luck with that. and...Have a Nice Day :)
23. 18
jonathan ,   adelaide   (12.14.13)
G-d gave man free choice.Man chooses war,crime,etc… and also good things.D-d is not to blame for the evil that man does.
24. to23
18   (12.14.13)
my point is -- i say no to evry evil choice becouse i believe that god is the right and it will show its way ... this is my believe and my experience in the life
25. Saudis & Israel
Syd Chaden ,   Palermo Calif USA   (12.14.13)
The Saudis view a threat from a nuclear Iran as an existential threat, whereas their attitude toward Israel derives from the Islamic doctrine of death to infidels. Accordingly, the Saudis can undoubtedly cooperate with Israel, in order to survive, but they will not abandon their Islamic doctrine. Western leaders ignore the doctrine of death to infidels, either because they don't know how to confront it, or, they lack the courage to do so. Probably, both. Muslims, however, take the doctrine very seriously. The Sunnis and the Shia each consider the other to be infidels, and they have been killing each other for centuries, for that reason. The doctrine of death to infidels is the root cause of the current Islamic terror in Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Mali, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Nigeria, Lebanon and Syria, to name some affected countries. And, it is the cause of the distaste of Iran and Saudi Arabia for each other. Saudi Arabia did not act to acquire nuclear weapons of its own until the Iranian nuclear threat became manifest. Obviously, Saudi Arabia had not considered a nuclear Israel to constitute a similar threat, since they had not acted to acquire nuclear weaponry in the past. Israel and Saudi Arabia not only share the threat of a nuclear Iran, they share the threat of alliance with an Obama-led USA. Obama will not act to prevent an Iranian nuclear strike on Israel or Saudi Arabia, but he might well act to interdict an Israeli or Saudi strike on Iran. His thinking can best be weighed by considering the words of former Carter-Administration principal, Zbig Brezinski, who, in regard to the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran, said, "If they try that, we should shoot their planes down". Events have shown that it can be rewarding to be an enemy of Obamas, and it can be dangerous to be a friend.
26. Jake #15. #14, Start from the beginning
free 101   (12.25.13)
Jews and Arabs lived together in the Medina area. Mecca was totally pagan before Mohammed. Is this a correct approach to the population history of the 600s in the Arabian desert? Around 600 CE a new movement came to life. Mohammed was the new power, to replace all previous prophets. The power of the written word was strong. The words of the Koran spread to large areas. All of us must calm down, and find a common ground to live peacefully along each other. We have to liberate ourselves from the our radical rulers. The free people must care for the less free.
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