"Israel has always helped Azerbaijan, it will definitely lend a hand in case of military confrontation with Iran"
Expert Baruch Leviev on Caliber.Az

INTERVIEWS  06 February 2023 - 11:58

"Anything can be a pretext for a war between Iran and Israel" - this is how Baruch Leviev, an Israeli political analyst and head of the Hand of Jerusalem NGO, expressed the essence of the hostile relations between the two Middle Eastern countries while speaking to Caliber.Az on the recent events.

Leviev deemed it necessary to stress at once that relations between Iran and Israel have always been at one stage or another of aggravation.

"There has always been tension," he said. "From the outside, it may have looked different, but the military leadership, the political establishment, and the people of Israel know exactly what Iran is and what it aims to achieve. Militarily speaking, it does not matter to us whether the war is today, tomorrow, or ever - the army of Israel is always on the alert. However, recent events have added even more heat to the uneasy Iran-Israeli relationship. The situation has ramped up after Tehran accused Tel Aviv of attack on Iran's military facilities," an Israeli expert said.

According to the analyst, anything can serve as a pretext for starting a war today.

"It could be the slightest spark in the IRI itself or some provocation on the border. However, the question still remains open. It is not known which side will be the first to start a war. I believe that in any war there are certain interests, not only of those states that are directly involved in it but also of some from outside," our interlocutor believes.

Leviev asserts that Israel has no intention to involve any party in the event of war with Iran: "Israel does not need to involve anyone in a war. We don't even have a global strategy on this issue. Our goal is to protect our homeland and people. Major powers such as Russia and the US are very likely to be involved in any military conflict. It is possible that this is what Iran might fear. Iranian authorities are openly alleging that the United States aims at destroying their country".

At the same time, the Israeli expert stresses that Tel Aviv has never relied on its supporters.

"We never hope for any supporters, but we have allies. Our allies have been and are 99.9% the US. I can also add the UK and EU countries here. Among the new allies is Azerbaijan. I and many other experts believe that Azerbaijan is indeed a strategic partner and ally of Israel in the region", the analyst said.

Speaking of the comprehensive support provided by Israel to Azerbaijan, Leviev touched upon the issue of what kind of assistance our two states expect from each other.

"I am unequivocally against the war. Nobody needs it, especially Azerbaijan, which borders Iran. Israel has always been at enmity with Iran, everything is clear here, but for Azerbaijan it is different. There are many ethnic Azeris living in Iran, so no one needs this war. However, if there is a military confrontation between Iran and Azerbaijan, I am almost one hundred percent sure that Israel will support your country. Israel has always helped Azerbaijan, and in the issue with Iran it will help it all the more," our interlocutor summed up.

Caliber.Az