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Iran and Israel

Contradiction has been a theme in Iran’s relationship with the Jewish people, for nowhere else in the Muslim world have Jews both suffered so grievously and flourished so thoroughly. Nor is the contradictory relationship between Iranians and Jews, heirs to two of the world’s oldest civilizations and among antiquity’s few surviving peoples, merely a thing of the distant past. In 2024, Iran’s government is the Middle East’s most antisemitic, but Iran’s people, according to a 2014 ADL survey, are the region’s least. And while revolutionary Iran is Israel’s most threatening enemy, royal Iran was Israel’s closest regional friend until 1979.

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The Key Curated Essentials for Iran and Israel

Iran, the Jewish People and Israel

May 18, 2025 Contradiction has been a theme in Iran’s relationship with the Jewish people, for nowhere else in the Muslim world have Jews both suffered so grievously and flourished so thoroughly. Nor is the…

Issues and Analyses|May 18, 2025

Timeline: Iran, Israel and the Jewish People

Iran’s relations with Israel and the Jewish people from ancient times to the present day. June 23-June 24, 2025 — At the request of President Donald Trump, Iran and Israel enter a cease-fire to end…

Timelines|722 B.C.E-Present

Iran and the Hamas-Israel War (5 videos)

Compiled by Aidan New Iran lies behind much of what Israel has battled since Hamas launched its brutal terrorist attack Oct. 7, 2023. By theology and ideology, Iran is committed to Israel’s destruction. By policy…

Explainer Videos|November 5, 2024

Hezbollah and the Hamas-Israel War (4 videos)

Hezbollah has used its stronghold in southern Lebanon to launch continual attacks on northern Israel since October 8, 2023. Hezbollah says it is motivated by its support for Hamas, a fellow member of Iran’s Axis of Resistance surrounding Israel. While Hezbollah is Shia and Hamas is Sunni, both are devoted to Israel’s destruction, and both receive funding from and coordinate with Iran.

Explainer Videos|September 2024

The Logic of Israel’s Actions to Contain Iran in Syria and Lebanon

Israel’s opposition to Iranian entrenchment in Syria and Lebanon is twofold: To prevent Iran from building a beachhead against Israel through its proxies on Israel’s borders, and to impede development of Iran’s nuclear and long-range missile capabilities. Israel is absolutely determined and prepared to act forcefully against Iran, which could lead to a full-scale war. Israel must win this struggle against Iran, one way or another.

Issues and Analyses|September 16, 2018

More Curated Essentials for Iran and Israel

Timeline: Hamas-Israel Relations With Events, Statements and Clashes, 1988-Present

1987-2025
Hamas's genocide against Israelis, unleashes the long blistering hatred that Hamas possesses for Israel and Jews. Entries include severe Arab criticism of Hamas, its detriment to Palestinian nationalism, statements by its leaders, and the war's unfolding.

Khalifa, Otaiba: David Makovsky Interview With Bahraini and UAE Ambassadors on Abraham Accords, November 2020

November 10, 2020
UAE and Bahraini ambassadors to the U.S. provide incisively sharp assessments about why their peace accords unfolded with Israel in September 2020: to halt West Bank annexation, strengthen ties with the United States, enhance national security, and stimulate, if possible, Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

Netanyahu’s Address to the U.N. General Assembly, 2023

September 22, 2023
Addressing Israel's fear of Iran's access to nuclear weapons, the same point made by his predecessor Yair Lapid stressed in 2022 at the UN, Netanyahu like Lapid praised the Abraham Accords, noting in a quite unrestrained fashion that Israel was on the 'cusp of a historic peace with Saudi Arabia." The Prime Minister did mention support for a two-state solution with the Palestinians as Lapid had done previously.

Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Anti-Iran-Deal Speech, 2018

April 30, 2018
With reams of evidence secured by Israeli intelligence, the PM calls out Iran for lying about their nuclear activities both before and since signing the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement with six countries.

Remarks by President Obama on the Iran Nuclear Deal at American University, 2015

August 5, 2015
Vigorously promoting this Iran Deal as a viable way to block and limit Iran pathways to a bomb. While recognizing Israel’s intense trepidation to the deal, he forcefully claims that war remains the only alternative to accepting this agreement, or to any changes to the agreement.

Secretary of State John Kerry’s Address to the Saban Forum, 2015

December 5, 2015
Kerry states five major objectives for US foreign policy in the Middle East: mobilize partners to defeat ISIS, work diplomatically to end the civil war in Syria, keep it from destabilizing friendly nearby countries, monitor Iranian adherence to the nuclear deal, and seek a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden to the AIPAC Policy Conference, 2013

March 4, 2013
Biden's is seized by Iran's nuclear weapons program, and its continued support of terrorist organizations, like Hezbollah and Hamas; they endanger Israel and the world. Golda Meir told him. "Israel's secret weapon; it has no place to go."

Mixed Muslim and Arab Views and Actions Toward Jews, Zionism and Israel, 1920s-Present

1920s-Present
For more than 100 years, Arabs and Muslims have expressed multiple attitudes toward Jews, Zionism and Israel. The remarks stretch along a spectrum from hatred, including the absolute, uncompromising need to prevent a Jewish state...

President Jimmy Carter, “The U.S. and Iran, the Shah’s Downfall, the Hostage Crisis, and the Rise of Ayatollah Khomeini,” 1985

March 24, 1985
Jimmy Carter, "The U.S.-Iran Relationship, the Shah's Downfall, Khomeyni's Rise to Power, and the Hostage Crisis," an Emory class presentation, Atlanta, March 24, 1985, recorded and transcribed with permission.

Jimmy Carter’s Unbridled Praise for the Shah of Iran at a State Dinner in Tehran, 1977 

December 31, 1977
Having made human rights a central pillar of his foreign policy, Carter nonetheless seemingly ignored the abuses the Shah of Iran imposed upon his own people. Carter's unctuous praise for the Shah at this state dinner angered Iranians in general, the clerical regime that replaced the Shah in 1979, resulting in negative consequences for Carter as he went into the 1980 presidential election.

Bibliography — Israel’s Foreign Relations

April 30, 2025
April 2025 CIE has compiled the following list of books and articles, including some available on our website, to guide understanding of Israel’s foreign policy. Bibliographies addressing specific aspects of Israel’s foreign relations can be...