Iran: burying the hatchet or digging our grave?
Caution and optimism greeted William Hague’s announcement of re-established diplomatic ties with Iran this week – with many in the Jewish community expressing far more of former than the latter.
The Foreign Secretary announced on Tuesday that the two countries were already working towards re-opening their respective embassies with muted concern.
Echoing Winston Churchill’s famous lament, Lord Palmer of Childs Hill agreed that it was “better to jaw-jaw than to war war,” but echoed the community’s concerns, asking: “How realistic is the dream of peace with Iran?”
“I personally have very strong doubts about Iran’s intentions,” he said. “While I understand Hague’s desire for dialogue, I hope this isn’t used to give sustenance to a belligerent power.”
Hague announced the diplomatic reset on Tuesday, revealing that both countries had appointed a charge d’affaires to help increase ties “on the way towards eventual re-opening of both our embassies”.
Britain’s embassy in Iran was closed in November 2011 after it was attacked by an angry mob believed to have been encouraged by the previous president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
A new Iranian president was elected this summer, however, and since then there has been a significant thaw in relations between Tehran and the West.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently warned that new man Hassan Rouhani is “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”
However, President Obama and other European leaders have been keen to reach out to Rouhani, who is considered a moderate by some and who has said he wants to reach an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme.
“There was a much better atmosphere at the United Nations last month,” said the Board of Deputies’ Alex Brummer.
“It makes absolute sense to re-establish diplomatic links, but we need to be fully aware of the doubts about the Iranian regime, and we need to maintain the sanctions. It would be a mistake to take the pressure off at this stage.”
Hague told lawmakers that Rouhani’s team had “presented themselves in a much more positive light” at the UN meet-up in New York.
But he warned that Iran was still in breach of six UN resolutions over its alleged development of nuclear weapons, adding: “We must test the Iranian government’s sincerity to the full.”
Despite the caution, analysts agreed that the apparent détente between Britain and Iran would worry Jerusalem.
Prof. Clive Jones, chairman of the European Association of Israel Studies, said: “Israeli diplomats will be asking whether this is a chink in the armour of unity. The sanctions have only been successful because [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu cajoled so many states to sign up.”
Toby Greene, a director at the Britain Israel Communications Research Centre (BICOM) said Hague was right to stress there should be no sanctions relief until Iran makes a major change in its behaviour, since it is the sanctions which have made Iran want to negotiate.
He added: “Despite Rouhani’s diplomatic offensive, Iran’s nuclear programme is currently moving full steam ahead, so time is of the essence.”
The Israeli embassy in London declined to comment.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
