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Source: https://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/when-theology-met-the-missiles/
Israel Emerges as the Surprising Protector of the Sunni World Against the Axis of Evil
(Israel Hayom) Amb. Dror Eydar - One of the most sensational consequences of the current war is the Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and other Sunni targets, shattering the cooperation Iran built with the Sunni world. This pushes Sunni nations against the wall, forcing them to take a clear and overt stand against the regime in Tehran. From the perspective of Sunni Islam, the Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia is a sacrilege. Saudi Arabia is the beating heart of Sunni Islam, and an attack on its soil is perceived as an assault on the entire "Ummah." For years, Iran marketed to the Sunni world the "Unity of Muslims" centered around Jerusalem and the war for its liberation, despite the Shiites having no religious connection to Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque were built towards the end of the seventh century CE by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan - the sworn enemy of the Shia. The bombardment of Muslim countries by Iran showed that Iran never really intended to liberate Al-Aqsa, but rather sought to rule the Sunni world. Thus, in a historical irony, Israel is seen as the defender of Sunni Islam against Shiite extremism. The writer is a former Israeli ambassador to Italy.