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Trita Parsi: Iran and Israel: Peace is possible
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Trita Parsi: Iran and Israel: Peace is possible

Iran-Israel Relations Through History

The discussion delves into the historical relationship between Iran and Israel, highlighting surprising instances of friendship and collaboration despite contemporary tensions.

Iran as Israel's Best Friend

  • Yitzhak Rabin referred to Iran as a geostrategic friend in 1987, showcasing a historical bond that defies current perceptions.

Positive Historical Relations

  • The positive history between Iranian and Jewish people dates back to King Cyrus the Great liberating Jews from Babylonian captivity in 539 B.C., fostering a long-standing connection.

Decades of Collaboration

  • Security and intelligence collaboration between Iran and Israel stemmed from shared threats like the Soviet Union and strong Arab states, shaping their strategic partnership.

Shift Post-Cold War

  • The end of the Cold War marked a shift in Iran-Israel relations as common threats diminished, leading to increased rivalry rather than partnership.

Geopolitical Reconfiguration

Iran and Israel Conflict Analysis

The discussion delves into the dynamics of the conflict between Iran and Israel, emphasizing the role of geopolitics over ideology in shaping their interactions.

Negotiation Proposal to Bush Administration

  • A negotiation proposal was presented to the Bush administration, indicating a potential for reconciliation between Iran and Israel.
  • Despite opportunities for collaboration, the Bush administration did not respond, reflecting a pattern of missed opportunities in the conflict.

Geopolitical Landscape Influence

  • Hostility between Iran and Israel is driven by changes in the geopolitical landscape rather than ideological differences.
  • Strategic imperatives have led to collaboration despite ideological opposition, highlighting the influence of security concerns on their relationship.

Diplomacy vs. War

  • Some advocate for a warlike approach by drawing parallels between Iran and Germany in 1938.
  • Emphasizes the importance of diplomacy in preventing war, suggesting that peace is achievable through strategic negotiations.

Seeking Peace Possibilities

  • Proposes moving away from viewing the conflict as purely ideological to explore avenues for peace.
Channel: TED
Video description

Iran and Israel: two nations with tense relations that seem existentially at odds. But for all their antagonistic rhetoric, there is a recent hidden history of collaboration, even friendship. In an informative talk, Trita Parsi shows how an unlikely strategic alliance in the past could mean peace in the future for these two feuding countries. TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more. Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at http://www.ted.com/translate Follow TED news on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tednews Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED Subscribe to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector