Supporters of the Iran nuclear deal should realize what they see as a step forward for world peace might be three steps backward for stability in the Middle East.

I have been sitting in an Israeli news room interning for The Jerusalem Post since early July. On a daily basis since the Iran nuclear deal was released to the public in mid-July, countless articles and columns surrounding the numerous perspectives on the deal have been published. While Israeli perspectives differ in semantics, the majority conclusion is that the faults within the Iran deal are a huge risk to Israel’s safety.

The deal’s critics view Iran’s consistent funding of terrorist organizations as a flashing red light that needs to be addressed when dealing with the lifting of sanctions and spreading of nuclear weapons in the constantly chaotic region. Iran has been linked to both Hamas and Hezbollah two historic antagonists of Israel’s safety. There have also been allegations that Iran is funding even more groups against the United States and Israel.

Because of its numerous ambiguities, the deal allows Iran to benefit from a diplomatic relationship with the United States without being held accountable for funding terrorist organizations that threaten not only Israel, but the rest of the Middle East.

While this deal can potentially mend the United States and Iran’s nearly nonexistent relationship, it doesn’t acknowledge its effects on Israel, a country that neighbors all of the terrorist organizations funded by Iran, as well as a consistent ally to America throughout the years. As an Israeli student at UCLA, this blind spot is one of the most concerning things when it comes to deciding my support for such an agreement.

Terrorist organizations funded by Iran have continually addressed their lack of respect and want to destroy the state of Israel. Having Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north, two terrorist organizations funded by Iran, puts Israel at an intense risk. Most Israelis see this Iran deal as a hindrance to their safety.

Even Israel’s opposition to the current conservative government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, sees the deal as detrimental.

Despite facing economic sanctions, Iran has funded Hamas to an extent that hundreds of terror tunnels have been built from Gaza into Israel and rockets that can reach up to central Israel have been obtained. By lifting sanctions, Iran’s funding of these terrorist organizations can increase, and therefore lead to what could be another major war between Israel and Hamas, something that both Palestinians and Israelis do not want.

Although there is a probability that with the lifting of economic sanctions without regulating the allocations of funding, Iran will be able to re-energize and recreate its fallen economy, there is also a high probability that terrorist organizations in the Middle East will not only continue to receive government support, but will also grow stronger and hinder peace talks among the region.

Additionally, Iran has agreed to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with more information about its nuclear program as a part of the deal, but inspections ensuring the information provided is accurate must be announced 24 days in advance.

While there is debate on whether the government would be able to hide any illegal nuclear weapons within 24 days, it is unreasonable to include a caveat that potentially undermines the purpose of the deal, especially when the deal puts the region and an ally at risk.

In a speech defending the deal Wednesday, President Obama said, “The choice we face is ultimately between diplomacy and some form of war.” And he may be right there are in fact some good parts to the deal, and it does make it harder for Iran to build a bomb.

Yet while President Obama may be correct that no deal could lead to more violence, he is denying the constant threat of violence in the region that America is distant from. There is little imminent threat to America if the deal ensues, but it is Israel who will face the backlash of Iran’s new economic freedom.

Supporters of the deal have argued that demanding transparency and de-escalation from Iran’s nuclear program better serves the greater good. However, the procedures outlined in the plan are not strong enough to guarantee progress.

Many of Iran’s actions in the region are condemnable, and ignoring the fact that the government supports terrorist organizations is unfair.

Iran has not, in the last few decades, proved itself to be a reliable counterpart in a cautionary and dangerous deal. This statement is not in regards to its people, but to its government. To put this exuberant amount of trust in it seems illogical in the eyes of Israelis and pro-Israel supporters, as well as in proponents of peace in the region.

From the perspective of the United States, there’s a decent amount to like about the deal. But an agreement this large has massive, sprawling implications for the entire globe – and from the perspectives of Israelis, the world just got a little darker.

Published by Shani Shahmoon

Shani Shahmoon is an opinion columnist and a member of the Daily Bruin Editorial Board. She writes about student activism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mental health issues.

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9 Comments

  1. Israel is a racist terror state that is nuclear armed and is illegally occupying stolen land while oppressing millions of Palestinians.
    If Israel wants to invade Iran then let them send their kids…isn’t our welfare payments to them and the blood we spilled for them in Iraq enough already?

    1. I’m not a Poli Scie major but I don’t believe that Israel has ANY desire for invading Iran. And also, they never “illegally” occupied “stolen land”. It was given to them by the UN. (how most countries were formed)

      1. What?!!?! You are not a poli sci major, but at least do some reading. Israel indeed is illegally occupying lands that were given to Palestinians by the UN as well as Golan heights of Syria. Israel has commited numerous war crimes and violation of international laws. They refuse to respect the border lines that the UN determined decades ago. Israel PM clearly mentioned that he will not allow formation of a Palestinian state, which explains the real intention of Israel politicians.

  2. This Iran deal isn’t only putting Israel’s safety at risk, it’s putting America’s safety at risk too. Sure it might not be for a decade, but what do you think those intercontinental missiles are for?

  3. I found this article very bias and not supported by facts. The nuclear deal was made to limit Iran’s nuclear program, not address the domestic issues of Iran. Generally speaking, diplomatic agreements and deals such as nuclear deal is conducted between countries that are not in the state of alliance. If everything is perfect in their relations, then no deal is needed, really! We made deals with our past enemies such as the Soviet Union and communist China, while their nuclear missiles were pointed at our cities!

    Unlike what our media portray, Iran is the victim of terrorism. Iran fights regional terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Jundullah, Alnusra front, and Alqaeda. Iranian scientists and civilians were assassinated by Mossad and Israeli-supported-terrorists (e.g. Jundullah). If these assassinations were made against any other country, retaliation was unavoidable! In this case, our government did not even condemn the event! Since 1993, Israel has repeated its false accusations that Iran will make a nuclear bomb, but Iran never did (even though they had enough fissile material and the technology to make 7-8 nuclear warheads!). Israeli officials said Iran would not comply with IAEA inspectors, and indeed, Iranians allowed the highest level of inspections in the world after Japan, according to IAEA report!

    Unlike Iran, Israeli regime is not a signatory to the non proliferation treaty (NPT) and illegally obtains 140-300 nuclear warheads and still accuses Iran of not complying with the IAEA. Moreover, Israeli regime has threatened several times to take military action against Iran and was responsible for sending staxnet virus into their nuclear facilities. Iran has never invaded any country in past 2 century, while Israel has invaded sovereign UN members such as Syria and Lebanon several times in the past decade. I believe Iran is the country that must be concern about Israel’s hostile actions, not Israel from Iran’s rhetoric!

    Organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah were created as the result of expansionist and apartheid policies of the Israeli government. Israeli regime, unlike Iran, has violated the U.N. Charter, Article 2(4) & 51 by illegally occupying lands and acquiring territories by force in 1948 and 1967. Moreover, Israel has forcefully moved and transferred certain populations in occupied territories (ethnic cleansing), which is in violation of Geneva Conventions IV, Article 49(6). Israel forcefully occupied Palestinian lands and claims its sovereignty over them, while expecting Palestinians to not retaliate in any form.

    Israel, unlike Iran, is an apartheid state because of its policies to isolate Palestinian Arabs, segregating people based on their religion, … . According to Amnesty International, the law passed by Israeli legislature (Knesset) in 2003 that prevents spouses of Arab-Israelis in occupied territories to visit their families, is violation of human rights. Moreover, Israel regimes policy for collective punishment (destroying the entire neighborhood, confiscating farmlands, bulldozing buildings, blocking off certain districts) violates Geneva Conventions IV, Article 33.

    How come Israel’s accusations against Iran that has turned out to be false over and over again still determines our foreign policies?! How come Israel’s war crimes, terrorism, and violations of human rights are ignored? and billions of our tax dollars are sent to Israel annually!? How come the apartheid policies of Israeli regime and willingness to eliminate Palestinians is ignored?! How come Israel is not sanctioned for refusing to make peace with Palestinians?! (Israel’s PM Netanyahu clearly stated that there would be NO Palestinian state) http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/16/middleeast/israel-netanyahu-palestinian-state/

  4. I’m a big supporter of Israel. I think criticism of it is way overblown. But the time has come for Israel to stop dictating the foreign policy of the United States. Benjamin Netanyahu is not our president.

    Nobody is going to destroy Israel. International politics 101 tells us that it would never be in a less powerful country’s best interest to use nuclear power against another country, provided that it still wants to exist. Iran would become dust if it ever touched Israel with the nuclear weapons it will never have. It’s time to end the scaremongering, time to start thinking rationally, and time to start calming down.

  5. I think that the foreign policy of our country should not be directed by the interests of israel. They are an ally, yes, but it seems that America’s actions in the middle east are disproportionately in favor of the interests of our ally compared to those of our own independent interests. we have a lot to gain through a better relationship with iran.

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