Former Israeli Intelligence Chief Urges Security Alliance with Gulf States to Counter Iran

Retired Brigadier General Hanan Gefen, former commander of Israel's Unit 8200, warned of a shifting power balance in the Middle East due to the declining influence of the United States and the persistent threat posed by Iran. Speaking in a Channel 14 interview on Sunday, Gefen criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump's handling of the region, stating that Trump repeatedly fell into Iranian traps despite strong U.S.-Israeli initiatives against Tehran. He said, "Iran managed to stop these moves at the last minute repeatedly, and Trump complains that 'the Iranians are working against us.'"

Gefen highlighted that regional countries, including Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are reassessing their security strategies amid America's diminished leadership. He called for Israel to join a security alliance with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf nations (excluding Qatar) to collectively defend against Iran's ballistic missile threat. "They know they need to defend themselves against the Iranian ballistic missile," Gefen explained.

He described the current moment as the dawn of a new reality in the Middle East, with regional states reconsidering their relationships with the U.S. and Iran, as well as groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Gefen emphasized that Israel must primarily rely on itself while building regional cooperation to adapt to the evolving power dynamics. He concluded by expressing hope that the ongoing conflict transformation is not yet final, saying, "We have changed this war, as of this morning. I hope we are all wrong."

The interview underscores growing concerns about Iran's regional ambitions and the potential for a new security framework involving Israel and Gulf states to counterbalance Tehran's influence.