Fear and Insecurity - Israel and the Iran Threat Narrative

To observers of the Iran-Israel conflict, its vitriolic rhetoric might suggest an ancient hatred between Jews and Muslims--a biblical feud dating back hundreds, or thousands, of years. But this rivalry is a far more modern development. In this authoritative study, Jonathan G. Leslie examines the origins of the conflict. Drawing on extensive archival and open-source research, he concludes that--despite the animosity surrounding the Iran-Israel relationship--the twenty-first century''s hostilities are not inevitable consequences of these nations'' history, nor of contemporary political events. The intensification of tensions has been largely the product of one nation''s efforts, with Israel viewing Iran as a far greater danger than Iran does Israel. Using a novel theoretical approach considering the power of narrative within historical context, Leslie outlines how Israel''s leaders successfully reimagined their erstwhile ally Iran as an existential threat. Former Prime Minister Benjamin