Jonathan Spyer

The long roots of Iran’s hatred for the Jewish state

Tehran (Photo: Getty)

As the dust settles on the latest confrontation between Israel and Iran in the Middle East, the nature of the Israeli strikes against Tehran this weekend is becoming clear. It is a mark of the extent to which clashes between these two regional powers have become normalised over the last six months that the details, rather than the fact of the attack itself, are the main subject of focus and discussion. It should first be noted that what has just taken place is the largest operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran on its own soil in 40 years.  

Hatred of Jews has been there from the start in the Teheran regime

What is taking place now in the Middle East is historic. It is therefore worthwhile to take a moment to look back in time, to better grasp the significance of the present moment. 

This confrontation between Iran and Israel has been underway since the very first days of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The

Written by
Jonathan Spyer

Jonathan Spyer is a journalist and Middle East analyst. He is director of research at the Middle East Forum and the author of The Transforming Fire: The Rise of the Israel-Islamist Conflict.

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