Israels peripheral vision
, עודכן
In the 1950s, Israels first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, came up with the idea of having an alliance of the periphery, intended to circumvent the Arab world and counteract its opposition to Israel. Ben-Gurion understood that recognition and legitimacy from neighboring Arab regimes were not on the horizon, so he established a successful strategic alliance with non-Arab Muslim nations and those with Western proclivities: Iran from the east and Turkey from the north. Ethiopia and Chad also joined the alliance. Israel was no longer alone in the neighborhood.
The unprecedented agreement Israel signed with Cyprus in Nicosia on Thursday is reminiscent of Ben-Gurions alliance. The new agreement allows the Israel Defense Forces to deploy naval forces and airplanes in Cyprus territorial waters and airspace to defend natural gas sites against Turkish threats. The only difference is that todays alliance has new players.
It is unfortunate that the peripheral alliance with Iran and Turkey has over the years transformed into an alliance of bullies. The anti-Sunni Iran of the past has turned into an extremist Shiite entity that exports terrorism and systematically works against Israel, whose existence it denies. Meanwhile, secular Turkey, or at least its leaders, decided to change course and distance the country from its secularism. Having no choice, Israel turned to new friends, some of whom are old-new friends.
In recent years, the Foreign Ministry has worked, to a great degree of success, to forge ties in the Balkans. Israels relations with Greece and Cyprus have taken a turn for the better. Ties with Romania and Bulgaria are only growing stronger. Albania and Serbia can also be considered part of the alliance that has developed . Speaking of Albania, Israel will soon open an embassy in its capital, Tirana, as part of the warming relations between the countries. It it too bad that in our crazy times this new embassy will become yet another target for Iranian intelligence.
Israel also has some close friends in east Africa. Newly created South Sudan may still face many problems, but it is part of the emerging association. Kenya and Uganda, with which Israel has maintained close ties, can join the young nation. Who says were alone in the neighborhood-
This past September the Palestinians unilateral bid for statehood in the U.N. was blocked. Already then we saw that Israel was not alone. Suddenly it became clear that not just the U.S. stands by us. In 2011, the Arab Spring arrived, and has since become quite wintry. Iran and Turkey have only ramped up their extremist rhetoric to appease protesting Arab masses that have found a common denominator: hostility toward Israel. Recognition and legitimacy from our neighbors once again seem far off.
Support from Balkan and African countries has for the first time in history allowed Israel to believe in a new alliance. Even if it doesnt admit it.
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