Ya'alon condemns calls to 'democratise' the Arab World

Former Israeli Minister of War, Moshe Ya’alon, has launched a stinging attack on Western powers that call for “democratising” the Arab world.

We tried democracy in Gaza and it brought Hamas. In Egypt, it brought the Muslim Brotherhood. Unfortunately, the West does not know the mentality that dominates the Middle East.

Ya’alon expressed his hope that the Trump administration would be able to “defeat radical Islam – both its Shia and Sunni sides”.

In another context, Ya’alon expressed his concerns regarding the future stability of the Jordanian regime, stressing that Israel’s main interest lies in maintaining the “stability of the regime” in Amman, noting that Israel supplies Jordan with water and gas exports.

Read: Israeli minister reveals ‘secret talks’ with Arab countries

He added that authorities in Jordan rely mainly on the support of Bedouin tribes, claiming at the same time that King Abdullah II has “succeeded so far in securing the loyalty of the majority of Jordanians of Palestinian origin by marrying a Palestinian.”

Attacking Turkey

Ya’alon also attacked the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, claiming that he “leads the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East and is seeking to launch a new Ottoman empire. He is supporting Islamists everywhere.”

Read: We should not have apologised to Turkey says Israeli minister

The current situation in the Arab world has “given Israel an unprecedented opportunity and allowed it to enjoy stability and security”, the former minister said.

Sunni Arab countries see that they are in the same boat as Israel. We have common interests. Iran and Sunni Islamic movements, including global jihadi movements, are the real enemy of both Israel and these countries.

The former minister of war also praised the “realism” of Sunni Arab rulers, explaining that this realism created common interests between them and Israel.