Iran Made Many War Mistakes, Israel Leaning Further Right, Says Azmi Bishara

Azmi Bishara, Director General of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, analyzed three key regional issues: the war on Iran, Western shifts regarding the Palestinian cause, and upcoming Israeli elections. He spoke at the opening of the fifth "Season of Seminars" organized by the Qatari Ministry of Culture. Bishara described the war on Iran as aggression, but stated that Tehran had made every possible mistake in its handling of it. He suggested the timing of the war was due to an agreement between then-US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that Netanyahu "succeeded in dragging Trump into it." Bishara characterized the conflict as an "American Israeli Iranian war," not just a "Gulf War against Iran." He noted that Qatar and Oman had sought peaceful resolutions with Iran for over a decade, emphasizing Iran's integral role in regional security. Bishara believes that post-revolution Iran has become a state with a sectarian obsession, influencing its dealings in Syria, Iraq, and the Gulf, and stressed the need for a resolution to this issue in any future understanding with Tehran. He predicted that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps would be the most pragmatic force for future reforms, drawing a parallel to the KGB's role in the Soviet Union. Bishara argued that security agencies, being more aware of a country's situation, are often more pragmatic and that the Revolutionary Guard, recognizing Iran's dire socio-economic conditions, would likely initiate reforms.

Regarding Western attitudes towards the Palestinian cause, Bishara observed a humanitarian shift in the US and Europe, amplified by social media's direct information flow, which has countered the traditional Western media's perceived downplaying of the issue. He highlighted cross-border youth engagement breaking the dominance of the Israeli narrative and suggested this shift would be difficult to halt. Bishara urged Palestinian leadership to leverage this trend by presenting the Palestinian cause with a democratic, humanitarian discourse, attracting supportive demographics. He pointed to second-generation Arab immigrants in Western countries, particularly the US, as key figures in this shift, noting their Western education and ability to articulate their positions without apology.

Concerning Israeli politics, Bishara stated that Israeli society is moving further right, even if opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot were to become prime minister. He suggested an Eisenkot premiership could benefit Israel by projecting an image of a "peace force" to some Arab leaders. However, Bishara recalled Eisenkot's past statements indicating no imminent prospect for a Palestinian state or a near-term peace solution. He anticipated Eisenkot would focus on consolidating settlements within the territory of a future state rather than on private lands in the West Bank. Bishara concluded that removing far-right ministers, should Netanyahu's alliance with the religious right falter, would ease pressure on Palestinians, especially since Eisenkot does not publicly advocate for expulsion policies like Netanyahu.