Israel and Iran : a dangerous rivalry / / Dalia Dassa Kaye, Alireza Nader, Parisa Roshan.

• Author: Kaye, Dalia Dassa.
• TeilnehmendeR: Nader, Alireza.; Roshan, Parisa.
• Year of Publication: 2011
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (117 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

Israel and Iran have come to view each other as direct regional rivals. The two countries are not natural rivals; they have shared geopolitical interests, which led to years of cooperation both before and after the 1979 Islamic revolution. But their rivalry has intensified recently, particularly with the rise of fundamentalist leaders in Iran and the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran posing grave strategic and ideological challenges to Israel.

Table of Contents

Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Preface; Contents; Summary; Acknowledgments; CHAPTER ONE - Introduction; Israel and Iran Increasingly View Each Other as Regional Rivals; The Rivalry Can Further Destabilize the Region, Particularly as Iranian Nuclear Efforts Move Forward; Study Organization and Approach; CHAPTER TWO - A Brief History of Israeli-Iranian Cooperation and Confrontation; The Periphery Doctrine: The Enemies of My Enemy Are My Friends; Military and Economic Cooperation During the Shah's Rule; Israeli-Iranian Cooperation After the 1979 Revolution; A Growing Rivalry; Conclusion

CHAPTER THREE - Israeli Perceptions of and Policies Toward Iran Geostrategic Concerns Are Driving Israeli Threat Perceptions of Iran, but So Is Iranian Ideology; Iranian Military Capabilities, Particularly Its Missile Program, Elevated the Iranian Threat in the 1990's; Israeli Concerns About Iran Extend Beyond Military Capabilities to Balance of Power Considerations; Israelis Are Concerned About the Influence a Nuclear Weapon Would Give Iran; Israelis Nonetheless Take Iranian Ideology and Potential Nuclear Use Seriously

Domestic Differences Emerge over How to Discuss and Respond to the Iranian Challenge Some Debate Has Emerged About the Use of the "Existential Threat" Language; The Greatest Fissures Within the Security Establishment Emerge over Differing Cost-Benefit Assessments of a Military Strike Option; Views of the Effectiveness of Sanctions and Sabotage Efforts Such as Stuxnet, as Well as the U.S. Position, Could Affect the Israeli Debate on the Military Option; Israel and Iran in the Future; Military Doctrine and Policy Are Shifting in Ways That Suggest Some Preparation for a Nuclear Future with Iran

Israel's Own Nuclear Posture Could Also Shift with a Nuclear-Armed Iran Conclusion; CHAPTER FOUR - Iranian Perceptions of and Policies Toward Israel; Regime Ideology and Geostrategic Factors Shape Iranian Threat Perceptions of Israel; Iran Views U.S. and Israeli Interests as Nearly Identical; The Regime Views Israel as Undermining Its Stability; The U.S. "Threat" Determines Iran's Military Posture Against Israel; Iran Increasingly Views Israel as a Direct Geopolitical Threat; Domestic Politics Are a Strong Driver of Iranian Policies Toward Israel

Different Factions Have Varying Views of Israel The Ascent of the Principlists Has Led to Greater Rivalry; A Future Regime May View Israel Differently; Conclusion; CHAPTER FIVE - Conclusion and Recommendations; U.S. Policies Toward Israel; U.S. Polices Toward Iran; Managing the Rivalry; Bibliography