According to Meir Javedanfar, Iran stands to be the biggest winner in the aftermath of Israel's latest blunder:
The recent developments are likely to boost Iran’s status in the Middle East, especially when it comes to its emerging alliance with Turkey. They will also be a much welcomed distraction from the troubles at home.
More after the jump --->
The recent developments are likely to boost Iran’s status in the Middle East, especially when it comes to its emerging alliance with Turkey. They will also be a much welcomed distraction from the troubles at home.
More after the jump --->
Meanwhile, the reports from the ships and the deaths of passengers on the Mavi Marmara will also reinforce the anti-Israeli teachings of Khamenei’s predecessor and mentor, Ruhollah Khomeini, especially amongst hard-line Muslims. It’s true that Israeli soldiers were set upon by metal bars and sticks as soon as they landed on the ships. Such tools could cause grievous bodily harm or even kill.
However, the international community and the Islamic world will have little time for such reasoning. As far as they are concerned, the numbers speak for themselves—ten people were killed by the special forces of a sovereign country on a ship that was reportedly carrying humanitarian aid.
What’s likely to make Tehran particularly happy is the fact that Israel walked into a trap, with its eyes wide open. The Gaza flotilla was the manifestation of the superiority of soft power, against hard power. Hamas lost the 2009 war in Gaza, but with the exposure given to the siege and the approaching flotilla even before it had moved against Israel, it had managed to win the battle for the hearts and minds of millions of non-Arab people around the world.
This is something that Tehran could never do on its own.
Full article here
However, the international community and the Islamic world will have little time for such reasoning. As far as they are concerned, the numbers speak for themselves—ten people were killed by the special forces of a sovereign country on a ship that was reportedly carrying humanitarian aid.
What’s likely to make Tehran particularly happy is the fact that Israel walked into a trap, with its eyes wide open. The Gaza flotilla was the manifestation of the superiority of soft power, against hard power. Hamas lost the 2009 war in Gaza, but with the exposure given to the siege and the approaching flotilla even before it had moved against Israel, it had managed to win the battle for the hearts and minds of millions of non-Arab people around the world.
This is something that Tehran could never do on its own.
Full article here
