[Canadian Jewish News] Paul Lungen - The Iranian leadership certainly does seek Israel's destruction, but they "care if Israel destroys Tehran. They don't mind martyrdom, but why do that if everything is going so well?" said Ze'ev Maghen, chair of the department of Middle East Studies at Bar-Ilan University. Iranian leaders believe their influence is spreading throughout the Middle East - into Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Hamas-controlled Gaza, he said. They believe they are succeeding in their long-term goals of regional hegemony and international influence. "Iran's goal is not merely to attack Tel Aviv. Their goal is much grander. They want to eradicate Israel as a state, but that's only a first step." Eliminating Israel would remove what the Iranians see as a "Western outpost" and create a "beachhead into Europe," he said. Maghen, who reads the Persian media, said Iranian newspapers are "laughing" at the United States, believing they have the upper hand.
2009-06-05 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive