A New Configuration of Relations is Forming in Middle East

While Israel has declared truce and its army is withdrawing from the Palestinian land, pressures for lifting the economic blockade on Gaza strip have increased.

Iranian Diplomacy has interviewed Sabah Zanganeh, international affairs expert:

Why did Iran’s diplomatic efforts decrease in the last day of conflict in Gaza and why didn’t Hamas mention Iran after the truce?

Hamas regularly consulted Iran during the conflict, and other countries like Syria, Qatar, Yemen and Senegal which tried to improve the situation in Gaza where constantly in touch with Iran. Naturally in the Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting neither Hamas nor Iran and not even the United States are present. That’s a point we must take into consideration. In fact, a new configuration of relations is forming in Middle East. Neither is United States consulting Egypt nor is Israel consulting Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting is held without these two countries and that signals a new situation.

What do you mean by ’a new configuration of relations’ in Middle East?

The realities are imposing themselves to the region. None of the countries attending Sharm-el-Sheikh had a crucial role in the Gaza war. Egypt, Jordan, Britain, Germany and France were all of a minor weight in this story. Their plans about Gaza were all put down. Mahmoud Abbas’ government did not attend the talks, [since it was] unable to make even one decision. The war in Gaza did change the situation. Israel was forced to declare unilateral truce to keep what had remained of its dignity and credibility.

Who were the winners and losers of the war? 

The people of Gaza won the war. Israel was defeated disgracefully and even had to dispense with Egypt’s proposal. They were forced to declare a unilateral truce and resort to the United States to sign a deal that doesn’t even have a sound legal base.

How do you view the truce the two parties have observed so far? Will Israel violate it?

Israel showed in this war that it is even weaker than the 33-day war of Lebanon. It stopped progress in Gaza after 22 days. So it will at least take one year from now for Israel to enter another conflict at this level.