(Makor Rishon-Israel Hayom) Dr. Raphael BenLevi interviewed by Matan Hasidim - Two weeks after Oct. 7, Dr. Raphael BenLevi, who focused on Iranian affairs in the IDF Military Intelligence Research Division, wrote, "In Iran's strategic chess match, Hamas serves as a pawn, Hizbullah functions as a rook - while the nuclear program represents the queen." Following the Iran operation, he explained that "From a historical standpoint, this military operation establishes Israel in the most secure and powerful position it has occupied since achieving statehood. The campaign restored Israel's reputation as a formidable military and technological force possessing exceptional capabilities." "While this recent offensive hasn't eliminated all threats facing us, it provides a crucial historical insight. Whenever we seized the initiative against our adversaries, opportunities multiplied and we achieved remarkable success....Conversely, each instance of hesitation cost us dearly." He sees a "fundamental flaw" in "liberal theories that minimize cultural distinctions while treating humans as purely rational actors. No 'universal rationality' governs international relations....The underlying long-term forces remain cultural, ideological, and frequently theological in nature....Iranian hostility toward us defies explanation through purely materialist analysis." "Idealistic thinkers conceptualize the international arena as a cooperative environment where armed conflict represents an aberration and peaceful coexistence constitutes the standard operating procedure. They maintain absolute confidence that every international actor functions according to identical logic - pursuing economic prosperity and material advancement - believing that presenting appropriate diplomatic proposals will inevitably generate reciprocal cooperation." "However, when confronting regimes such as Iran or Hamas, which operate through entirely different moral frameworks and frequently pursue theological-revolutionary objectives incompatible with compromise, this worldview can manifest as perilously delusional thinking." "The ayatollahs' regime despises America not for particular policies but for fundamental values it represents. American diplomatic architecture cannot process this reality, repeatedly returning to fantasies about engaging regime officials to discover underlying 'little Americans' seeking personal fulfillment. This represents persistent error rooted in cultural blindness."
2025-07-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive