(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah - The Saudis are exasperated by the Obama administration's courtship of Iran - the same Iran that supports their enemies in Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen and Iraq, and claims control of four Arab capitals (Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad and Sana'a). With its military intervention in Yemen, Saudi Arabia decided it was time to draw the line between the two main camps fighting over hegemony in the Middle East - the Iran-led axis versus the moderate-Arab camp led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia - and demanded that the U.S. choose sides. Even Turkey provided logistical support, verbally attacked Iran and called on Iran and the militant groups to withdraw from Yemen. Moderate Arab countries are hoping to create a pan-Arab intervention force to back regimes under attack by Sunni jihadists. Egyptians have pointed to Libya as being the next target for an Arab military intervention. The writer was formerly Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence.
2015-04-01 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive