The ongoing protests in Iran have captured the attention of Israelis and Palestinians alike, with each group holding distinct perspectives and hopes for the future.
In Israel, where the existence of the state has long been opposed by Iran, there is widespread support for the protesters among political and defense officials. Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst for Israel at the International Crisis Group, highlights that "regime destabilization and change have been long-term goals" for Israel. This stance is in stark contrast to the views of Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, who express their desire for the Iranian regime to remain in place and for the protests to subside.
Abu Akram, a driver transporting goods between Jordan and the West Bank, voices the Palestinian perspective: "Who else has been able to fight Israel? It has been Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah." Hezbollah, an Iranian-funded militant group, is known for its opposition to Israel's existence and support for a Palestinian state, which are core tenets of its ideology.
As the protests in Iran enter their third week, human rights groups estimate that at least 646 people have been killed in the escalating demonstrations. However, verifying these casualties is extremely challenging due to a near-total communications blackout.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Trump in Florida, where Trump warned of potential U.S. airstrikes on Iran. This week, Trump reiterated his serious consideration of "very strong options," including military action. In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump addressed Iranian protesters, stating, "HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
The tensions between Iran and Israel are further highlighted by their 12-day conflict last June, which resulted in the exchange of missiles and the tragic loss of civilian lives in both countries.
Nimrod Novik, a fellow with the Israel Policy Forum, emphasizes that at the Mar-a-Lago meeting, the focus was on Iran as the only front where a less restrained approach was taken. Netanyahu is reportedly considering another round of strikes on Iran due to concerns that Tehran is rebuilding its nuclear sites.
Zonszein notes that while Israel views the combination of the June operation, economic hardships in Iran, and the current protests as successful, she cautions that a military strike alone will not remove the regime. She raises the concern that even if Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, were to be removed in a Venezuelan-style operation, the resulting power vacuum could lead to chaos and an even worse government.
Many Palestinians, like Ibrahim Issa, a shop manager in Ramallah, express pessimism about the prospects of a new government in Iran being beneficial for their aspirations of a Palestinian state. Issa believes that any government installed by the U.S.A. would be worse than the current one, highlighting the complex dynamics and differing perspectives in the region.
The situation in Iran continues to unfold, with the world watching and waiting to see how these protests will shape the future of the country and its relationships with neighboring states.
