Tzvi Yehezkeli on Arab States: "Looking for Someone to Blame for Corona"

"The Arab world can be divided into three parts: countries dealing with the coronavirus, like Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states; countries trying to suppress it, like Egypt, Syria, and the Maghreb states; and one country that tried to suppress it but experienced a terrifying outbreak - Iran."<\/p>

This division is made by Tzvi Yehezkeli, head of the Arab desk at News 13. Yehezkeli explains the rationale behind it: "The question is how much the regime fears that the pandemic will shake and harm it," he says. "A regime confident in itself faces the virus directly. Others try to deny and buy time."<\/p>

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"It's No Coincidence They Published That Tests Arrived Mediated by Saudi Arabia"<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>

Yehezkeli claims that the figures published by most Arab states arouse great skepticism. "Regarding countries like Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Yemen, Iraq, and all the Maghreb states, I can almost certainly say they aren’t reporting accurate numbers," he argues.<\/p>

Perhaps the best example of denial is Syria. "The size of the dictatorship equals the size of the denial," says Yehezkeli. "They claim there's no coronavirus, and we know that’s not true. The regime knows that if it admits there's a virus, it will have to treat the sick – and it lacks the capacity. Take Syria, which has been at war for nine years, with 800,000 dead and 11 million refugees. Only in the last two months, another million citizens became refugees in the Idlib area – and we saw them freezing to death and being buried in mass graves. Assad's regime, fighting for its life, can't handle the virus. They bomb hospitals, so there's no place to treat the infected. Only those with money and close ties to the regime receive medical care in Syria."<\/p>

Unlike the denying countries, Gulf states are in a completely different situation, he says. "First, there are fewer infections there. Second, they use assistance from the West, especially from Israel. It is certain that how Israel handles COVID-19, and that the Prime Minister leads the fight, impresses Arab states greatly.<\/p>

"There is secret cooperation between the Gulf states and Israel regarding knowledge of the disease and system operations," claims Yehezkeli. "I assume it's no accident that foreign media reported the Mossad brought test kits mediated by Saudi Arabia through Gulf states."<\/p>

Yehezkeli believes the level of Arab states’ agreement to seek help from Israel indicates their understanding of the severity of their situation. "In Iraq, for example, a religious debate arose: assuming Jews find a vaccine for the virus, is it permissible to use it? Initially, they said 'no way,' but today they already say – if there is such a vaccine, we will buy it at any cost."<\/p>

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The Gaza Nightmare<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>

Near geographically to Gaza. "Hamas knows that if the virus breaks out, it will not be able to control the Strip," Yehezkeli explains. "It is a regime that maintains itself by force. How much can they endure citizens banging on their doors asking for assistance, ventilators, and medicine? Hamas is not built for this, and so it tries to do everything it can to prevent it. Therefore, they built quarantine facilities in the north and south and even placed commanders in Hamas in isolation. Most of Hamas' resources have always been directed toward building strength. It’s the first time in a decade that Hamas' cement is being used not for tunnels, but for building quarantine facilities. The very existence of an element that diverts attention from building strength to another challenge indicates their power is declining.<\/p>

"Based on the measures Israel is taking, it seems it chose not to let the virus break out in Gaza. Collapsing Hamas this way is not an Israeli interest, because any Palestinian regime would be happy to collapse humanitarily into our hands. The Palestinians never miss an opportunity to blame the 'occupation' for everything that moves."<\/p>

Regarding the Palestinian Authority, Yehezkeli says it acts according to Israeli instructions. "Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) is in a kind of isolation. He is in the highest risk group – 84 years old, twice cancer survivor, and a smoker. He does not speak to his citizens at press conferences.<\/p>

"The Authority manages everything according to the Israeli plan. Israel understands that a virus outbreak in the Authority would leak into Israel, and the Authority is not truly a separate entity that can make its own guidelines. One hundred thousand workers work in Israel, and they must undergo health checks each time to enter. Thus, also from this aspect, they prefer to adhere to our guidelines – to receive their wages and in a more sterile area."<\/p>

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Iran as a Global Epicenter<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>

If at the top of the fight against the virus in Arab countries stand the Gulf states, followed by Egypt, the Maghreb states, and Syria, it's clear who is at the bottom rung - Iran.<\/p>

"Iran today is one of the global epicenters of the outbreak," says Yehezkeli, placing it alongside China and Italy. "The Washington Post recently brought images of mass graves in the city of Qom. There are images of people collapsing at the entrances of hospitals, and they aren't even being collected. Citizens understand that if they don't take the initiative themselves – the regime can't help them."<\/p>

One of the enigmatic aspects is the virus's rapid and deadly outbreak among the ruling party's elite in Iran. "Members of parliament, as well as aides to Khamenei and Rouhani, were infected," says Yehezkeli. "Hundreds of regime elites have died in recent months. Clerics who, two weeks ago, preached that the virus is Allah's revenge are now buried in mass graves in sterile cemeteries."<\/p>

How is it explained that the virus strikes precisely at regime elites?<\/strong><\/p>

"One explanation is that Iran has extensive ties with China, bringing many Iranian students to study there. The students returned to Iran as the epidemic broke out, likely carrying the virus with them.<\/p>

"In Iran, not everyone has the privilege to study in China, but only those connected to or rewarded by the regime. These privileged individuals brought the virus to the regime's top."<\/p>

In Iran, they naturally prefer to cling to conspiracy theories. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, claimed there might be truth to the theory that the United States is behind the global spread of the virus. He was quoted as claiming that "the virus was engineered specifically for Iran using genetic information about the Iranian people that the Americans obtained in various ways."<\/p>

"The Iranian regime is in real hysteria," says Yehezkeli. "Not because people are dying; after all, this regime stabilizes itself on its citizens' blood with an evil mechanism, not even seen in Daesh; they are hysterical because they know that the coronavirus outbreak is a death blow to the regime.<\/p>

"The virus is one of the most significant threats to the Iranian regime ever. All previous protest movements pale in comparison to the coronavirus's potential. Sanctions are efficient, but they destroy the regime slowly; the virus destroys it quickly.<\/p>

Until recently, Iranians insisted on keeping markets and malls open. They know that if citizen-to-citizen economic movement stops, it will be the regime's final nail in the coffin.<\/p>

If anyone is thinking of attacking Iran," summarised Yehezkeli, "now is the time."<\/p>

(Photo: Yaakov Naumi /Flash90)

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The Uniqueness of the Jewish People<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>

Finally, Yehezkeli draws our attention to the difference between Israel and the Arab peoples and Muslim states. "I observe the religious leaders in Muslim countries, and it is fascinating," he says. "Entire populations in distress look up to them, but they do not encourage them to spiritual correction. I have not heard a single word of self-reflection from the sheikhs or an attempt to understand what Allah wants from us. They are busy accusing – 'the virus arrived because the Chinese oppressed the Uyghurs' (a minority in China, mostly Muslim, R.A.) or 'because the Americans oppressed the Iranians.'"<\/p>

"The big problem with this mentality of blaming others is that it prevents the Arab world from taking responsibility and making steps that would benefit them. For years, the Arab world has not taken responsibility for its fate and claims 'the Jews are to blame for everything.' Therefore, in recent years, it has been collapsing."<\/p>

In contrast, says Yehezkeli, the uniqueness of the Jewish people is revealed. "See what the people of Israel are," he says with excitement. "A Jew cannot help but ask himself – how does this affect me.<\/p>

"On the first Shabbat with restrictions in Israel, everyone spoke of the special privilege. Many people who never observed Shabbat told me they kept it in one way or another, in a way that really illuminated them. It’s amazing. The introspection people are doing now while confined at home, with a desire to fix and improve – this is an Israeli-Jewish trait.<\/p>

"Maybe this coronavirus is a letter from heaven, telling us – guys, stop relying on all the things you rely on and start anew. The people of Israel want Hashem, so let's start getting closer."<\/p>

Published in "Olam Katan".<\/strong><\/em><\/p>