Israel should empower minority groups in Iran to overthrow the mullahs, replacing Iran with homogenous, ethnic countries that enjoy friendly relations with the rest of the world.
Israel attacked the backbone of Iran’s missile industry last month after Hezbollah targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea, and Iran itself fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at the Jewish state. The Israeli attack comes at a time when Israel is actively fighting against Iran’s proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, which resulted in Israel eliminating Hamas terror leaders Yahya Sinwar and (allegedly) Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah terror leader Hassan Nasrallah.
MEMRI reported that in an article in the Saudi daily Okaz, journalist Hamoud Abu Taleb proclaimed, “The potential conflict looming between Israel and Iran could turn the region into a volcano, with lava flying in every direction.” In the wake of these developments, the question remains: how does the State of Israel view the wider Middle East region?
It is a strategic Israeli interest that the Iranian threat be taken care of once and for all. On a daily basis, Iran chants “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.” Iran’s proxies continually launch attacks on the Jewish state, making life unbearable in northern and southern Israel. Up to 150,000 Israelis have been displaced because of Hamas and Hezbollah attacks. The attack upon Iran’s ballistic-missile industry significantly hampered the ability of the Iranians to fire hundreds of ballistic missiles at the Jewish state, which earlier in the month paralyzed the lives of the millions of people who live there. However, it has not fully taken care of the Iranian threat. Iran’s nuclear industry was not touched. Neither was Iran’s oil industry, which continues to fund terrorism launched from the Shia Crescent: Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
It is of utmost importance to Israel that there be regime change in Tehran, Gaza and Beirut, and for the threats emanating from Syria and Yemen to be taken care of once and for all. Only then can this war end, and Israelis will once again be able to enjoy a life full of peace and prosperity.
MEMRI reported that the Lebanese Hezbollah-affiliated news website Al-Khanadiq published two articles containing “exclusive information” about Hezbollah’s rehabilitation of its military infrastructure, as well as its management of the fighting against Israel. According to the website, Hezbollah has reconstructed its pyramid of command and has replaced officials killed by Israel, 80% of its military capabilities remain, and it continues to receive supplies from Iran. Hezbollah reportedly also still has tens of thousands of missiles, including precision missiles, hypersonic missiles and anti-ship missiles, so it can strike any target in Israel, and it is preparing for a long war of attrition.
Until this threat is taken care of, northern Israel will remain uninhabitable. A similar situation exists in the Gaza periphery communities, which are constantly threatened by Hamas rockets, even with Yahya Sinwar and Haniyeh gone. More than 100 Israelis still remain in captivity, where they are held in inhumane conditions with no end in sight. Every attempt to obtain their freedom in exchange for a ceasefire has been unsuccessful and Israel simply cannot release thousands of terrorists with Israeli blood on their hands. It would destroy Israel’s deterrence for years to come.
So, what should Israel do to respond to these threats? Israel should support the Druze, Christians and Sunnis in Lebanon, who might be willing to rise up and overthrow Hezbollah. Israel should also empower the Gazan clans to topple and replace Hamas in the coastal strip so that the Gazan people will have a viable alternative to Hamas and can take steps to improve their lives with the help of Israel, to the detriment of the terror group.
Israel should also empower the Kurds, Baloch, Ahwazi, South Azerbaijanis, Turkmen and other minority groups in Iran to rise up and overthrow the mullahs, replacing present-day Iran with a series of homogenous, ethnic countries that all enjoy friendly relations with the rest of the world, including Israel.
Israel should also support the creation of the Zangezur corridor, which will connect Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region to Azerbaijan proper. This corridor strengthens Azerbaijan, which is a loyal ally of the State of Israel. Making Baku stronger, to the detriment of the Iranian mullahs, would help Israel realize its vital interest in toppling the ayatollah regime since an empowered Azerbaijan could energize the South Azerbaijanis in Iran to secede and break away from the oppressive regime.
The creation of such a corridor would weaken the Islamic Republic of Iran, as it will empower the Turkic axis to the detriment of the Shia Crescent, thus cutting off Tehran from Armenia, which is Tehran’s window to the outside world when it is under heavy international sanctions. Armenia has become Tehran’s life support, and when the Zangezur corridor is built, it will help disconnect that life support for the mullahs. The creation of this corridor with the full cooperation of Armenia in the framework of a peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan will also empower Armenia to make peace with the other Turkic countries and to move closer to the West, further away from Tehran, which is in Israel’s best interests.
A strong Armenian-Iranian friendship, where Iranian weapons are sold to Armenia, emboldens the Iranian economy against the interests of Israel and the civilized world, which want to see Iran weakened rather than strengthened. Any corridor that cuts off Armenia from Iran is in Israel’s best interests, especially when Russian President Vladimir Putin supports it, and his support for this corridor is creating a wedge between the Russians and the Iranians.
The more isolated Iran is, the safer the civilized world feels.
Dr. Mordechai Kedar is a senior research associate at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and is an expert on the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups.
