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South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Israeli retired officials write to Donald Trump on war in Gaza
"It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," the officials said. "Your credibility with the vast majority of Israelis augments your ability to steer Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and his government in the right direction: End the war, return the hostages, stop the suffering," they wrote. Their appeal comes amid reports that Netanyahu is pushing to expand military operations in Gaza as indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas have stalled. Having witnessed his mother and father being beaten by the IDF, he runs into the street and throws stones at an IDF tank. If he is not shot but arrested as a Hamas terrorist and imprisoned without any kind of court hearing for years. In a fence so heavily guarded, how did the IDF allow so many Hamas terrorists to drive to the fence, cut their way through, and drive where they committed their atrocities. Finally driving back to Gaza with their hostages without any serious IDF back-up or support, were they told to turn a blind eye or was it a very serious dereliction of duty. Trump will lose any chance of a Nobel Prize, he and Israel could be on the other side of history. Many thanks, Andrew Nutt, Bargoed.
Middle East Eye
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Iranians backed the state against Israel. Will it now reward them?
After Israel's 12-day war against Iran in June, a sense of cautious hope has emerged both within and beyond the country that the Islamic Republic might use this moment of national unity to ease internal tensions and address long-standing domestic grievances. During the conflict, a rare moment of unanimity swept across the political spectrum in Iran. From principlists to reformists, and from the far right to the nationalist left, there was no visible sign of political infighting or factional disputes. In a striking display of solidarity, the public rallied around the flag and the Islamic Republic - even as only days prior, public anger towards it was at a boiling point over endemic corruption, economic mismanagement, the suppression of civil society and the relentless tightening of restrictions on freedom of speech. The rallying of public support came as a surprise to many observers, especially in light of the recent political apathy that had gripped the country. In the last two presidential elections, fewer than half of eligible voters turned out, with many deliberately abstaining to register their protest against the Islamic Republic. "It's widely believed that Israel was emboldened to attack precisely because it assumed the Islamic Republic lacked popular support," said a reformist political activist, speaking to Middle East Eye on condition of anonymity. "[Benjamin] Netanyahu's government was counting on a domestic uprising - or at least a deeply fractured society - and exile-based regime-change advocates did their best to amplify that narrative. However, Bibi was proved wrong and he clearly underestimated the intelligence of Iranians." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The activist said that while the war has rallied people behind the Islamic Republic, this show of unity must not be misread. "People didn't suddenly become supporters of the Islamic Republic; they stood up for their sovereignty more than anything. They didn't want a foreign state to dictate their future," he said. "Many also feared that Israel's real aim wasn't just military pressure, but the fragmentation of Iran itself. A weakened, divided Iran would never pose a serious threat to Israel - neither as a regional rival nor as an ideological adversary." Has the Islamic Republic understood the message? In the aftermath of the war, the Islamic Republic finds itself at a crossroads. On one hand, the war revealed a deep reservoir of national cohesion and resilience. On the other hand, it laid bare the urgency of internal reform. So far, however, the signals from Tehran have been mixed, if not discouraging. Iranians struggle to rebuild lives and homes in wake of Israel's war Read More » Contrary to expectations, the establishment has not announced any major changes to its domestic policies. The public's hopes that the post-war unity might translate into a more open political atmosphere have, for now, gone unanswered. Key demands - such as the release of political prisoners, lifting of internet censorship and ending the house arrest of 2009 opposition figure Mir Hossein Mousavi - could have been fulfilled with the stroke of a pen. Instead, many fear that hard-line instincts are once again prevailing within the Islamic Republic. In a particularly symbolic move, two ageing figures returned to public life. Ahmad Jannati, now 99 years old and long seen as a symbol of political repression, was reinstated as secretary of the Guardian Council, the powerful body that vets election candidates and oversees legislation for conformity with Islamic law. Meanwhile, Kazem Seddiqi, a cleric notorious for his ultra-conservative sermons, was once again seen leading Friday prayers in Tehran. These developments have fuelled public scepticism that any meaningful change is on the horizon. And yet, subtle signs suggest a quiet debate may be taking shape within the corridors of the Islamic Republic. A shift in rhetoric and tone? A senior editor at a reformist newspaper in Tehran told MEE: "One of the most notable changes we're seeing is in the establishment's language. For the first time in years, top officials are speaking of Iranian nationalism - not Islamic ummah-ism [Pan-Islamism] - as the basis of unity. That shift is no small matter." He explained that for decades, Iran has tried to dilute Iranian national identity in favour of a pan-Islamic worldview. "This created constant tension with the public, who held tightly to their cultural and national roots. But that seems to be changing now." Under fire: Iran between pride and exhaustion Read More » The editor also pointed to a shift in the Islamic Republic's posture towards women. "The pressure on women for not wearing the hijab appears to be easing - quietly, but clearly. I believe the leadership has realised that it cannot fight a war with half of its population. Perhaps, they've finally understood that coercion only breeds resistance," he added. More tellingly, he said: "I believe the police and security forces have been instructed to act more respectfully. There's an observable change in the way people are being treated. "But the real challenge lies in reining in the Islamic Republic's traditional social base: the hard-liners who have long thrived on cultural enforcement and ideological control." Conservatives step in In an unexpected development, some prominent conservative figures have begun calling for internal reform, arguing that ignoring the public's message after the war would be a grave mistake. Ezzatollah Zarghami, former head of state TV and a close confidant of the supreme leader, appeared on a televised programme and said: "We must not go back to factory settings. We need to change our behaviour. Sometimes, the restrictions we impose insult the intelligence of the Iranian people. In too many areas, we deny them the right to choose. 'People didn't suddenly become supporters of the Islamic Republic; they stood up for their sovereignty more than anything' - Reformist activist "Now that the people have sounded the alarm, it's time for us to change course." Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, senior foreign policy adviser to the supreme leader, wrote: "Maintaining national unity, as emphasised by the [supreme] leader, must include tangible reforms in social policy. The people have done their part. It's now time for the officials to respond. Outdated methods are no longer sufficient in a post-war Iran." In this carefully worded statement, Velayati seemed to acknowledge the need for change that is not cosmetic, but one that is "felt" by ordinary citizens. What comes next? A conservative politician, speaking to MEE on condition of anonymity, said: "I've heard promising news that there are serious discussions about releasing political prisoners, possibly even Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has been under house arrest since 2011." 'There's a recognition that the post-war era demands a different kind of leadership' - Conservative official A reformist source also shared the same news with MEE, but clarified: "I'm not holding my breath. There have been promises before. We've learned to wait and see." At the same time, speaking to MEE, a conservative official suggested that internal shifts are underway to sideline hard-liners from key political arenas gradually. "There's a recognition that the post-war era demands a different kind of leadership - one that is more responsive to people's needs and more in tune with today's realities," he said.
Shafaq News
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iran escalates against Israel with 19th strike wave and Dimona threat
Shafaq News/ Tehran launched the 19th wave of its True Promise 3 campaign against Tel Aviv on Saturday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed, as warnings to strike Israel's Dimona nuclear power plant mount. In a brief statement, the IRGC said the latest wave included a large number of drones targeting northern and southern Israel, marking a continued escalation in Iran's direct military response. The announcement came amid growing threats from senior Iranian officials. Speaking to Al Jazeera, a high-ranking Iranian official cautioned that Israel's Dimona nuclear facility could become a 'legitimate target' if the Israeli war enters a more complex phase. He further noted that the Iranian strikes had already dealt significant damage, accusing the Israeli army of deliberately hiding the extent of its losses. 'We have yet to deploy our most advanced missiles—but we will, without a doubt.' The official explained that his country's strategy hinges on depleting Israel's interceptor missile stockpiles through sustained, calculated attacks. 'We have detailed intelligence on their air defense capacity and are systematically wearing it down.' He also warned that any direct US involvement would trigger a broader regional conflict and expose American interests in the Middle East to 'serious danger.' According to the official, targeting US bases in the region would be 'easier than hitting Israel's heartland.' Meanwhile, Colonel Iman Tajik, spokesperson for Operation True Promise 3, delivered a sharp message to Israelis: 'Flee [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's quagmire—your death is inevitable.'
Middle East Eye
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli police ban Gaza children photos from anti-war protest, then backtrack
Israeli police initially banned the use of images of Palestinian children and babies from Gaza during an upcoming anti-war protest, but reversed the decision following media reporting. The police had issued a list of restrictions to Standing Together, the group organising the protest set for Thursday. According to the police letter obtained by Haaretz, the list included bans on images of children from Gaza, signs referring to captives, and the use of terms such as 'genocide' and 'ethnic cleansing'. Following the publication of the restrictions, the police appeared to backtrack. According to the Times of Israel, protest organisers received updated instructions that omitted the previously banned content. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In response to the initial restrictions, Standing Together accused the police of politicising the protest and attempting to censor public criticism of the war and government policy. 'Since [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu chose to collapse the ceasefire deal to allow [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben Gvir to return to the coalition, the release of the hostages from Hamas captivity has been halted, and many Palestinian children have died,' the statement added. At the outset of the Israeli war on Gaza, police imposed a ban on anti-war protests. Attempts by activists and Palestinian citizens of Israel to demonstrate against the war were met with a heavy-handed police response. Even when some protests were permitted months later, banners calling to 'stop the genocide' were often confiscated. Earlier this month, police detained 23 people who participated in a small anti-war protest in Haifa. Since the start of the war, Israeli forces have killed more than 51,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including over 15,000 children.
