Israels proposed hexagon alliance with Arab states faces uncertain success

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a regional bloc of countries, which includes Israel, India, Greece, and Cyprus, among others. The proposed “hexagon of alliances” aims to counter what Netanyahu describes as “radical” adversaries.

Netanyahu outlined the plan on Sunday, framing the Middle East as divided into two axes: radical Sunni and Shia. He stated that the alliance would unite these nations against common enemies. However, no government has publicly endorsed this plan or its sectarian framing.

Greece and Cyprus are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has an arrest warrant for Netanyahu due to war crimes in Gaza. This could create a legal obstacle for Netanyahu’s participation in the proposed alliance.

Analysts have questioned the feasibility of the proposal, with Andreas Krieg, associate professor of security studies at King’s College London, stating that it may be more of a branding exercise than a formal alliance. Omer Ozkizilcik, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, noted that regional countries are already coordinating efforts against Israel through joint statements and diplomatic initiatives.

Netanyahu is seeking to replicate his successes in countering what he describes as the “Shia axis,” an informal network of allied groups opposing Israeli influence in the region. However, several Sunni-majority states have coordinated diplomatically in response to Israel’s regional actions, including joint condemnations of Israeli efforts to recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

The proposed alliance has not gained widespread support, and its implementation remains uncertain.

Source: Al Jazeera