An uneasy peace prevails between the two Middle East powers, after they fought a 12 day war during which the Israelis—who started this round of the conflict—claim (and seem) to have largely achieved their objectives. However, “peace” is an elusive concept in the Middle East these days. Will the ceasefire hold? Even if it does, what are the consequences for the combatants and for the rest of the region? Western pundits once again are imagining that the war will bring regime change to Iran, despite the obvious surge of national pride on the streets of Tehran and elsewhere. At the same time, some analysts seem to think that Prime Minister Netanyahu, having slayed all the dragons at hand, will finally be forced from office, although Bibi’s political survival skills are legendary. And what of the ordinary citizens—Iranians, Israelis, Palestinians—who must be beyond exhausted by seemingly endless death and destruction?
On July 29, the Tällberg Foundation convened a conversation that explored these and other questions, from three different perspectives:
- Francesca Borri, Italian journalist who lives and reports from the West Bank;
- Ambassador Hossein Mousavian, former Iranian diplomat who teaches at Princeton University;
- Abraham Silver, Architect and lecturer at Hebrew University.
Peace now? Peace ever?
