CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
As US President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, the world watches on with baited breathe to see if the 9-day conflict between the warring nations will actually come to a close.
Iran’s foreign minister said Iran will stop its attacks if the Israel also discontinues any airstrikes by 4 a.m. local time. The Israeli Government has not immediately acknowledges any ceasefire, and judging by their military action in Gaza over the last two years, it is fair to assume that this might not be the end of it.
The fractured Netanyahu Government is fast becoming the most unpredictable power within the region, causing many leading geopolitical experts and academics to refer to the current State of Israel as ‘The Joe Pesci of the Middle East’.
This is a direct reference to the archetypical wiseguy characters that are played by the iconic American character actor Joe Pesci.
A spokesperson for the Netanyahu government has refuted this characterisation, claiming that they envision themselves as the Middle East’s Kevin Costner, or at worst, Robert De Niro.
Netanyahu’s Israel has long been recognised as a convenient and strategic partner to have when everything is running smoothly, and a strong right-hand to offer swift resolutions when met with opposing forces during smaller operations.
However, as is the case with Joe Pesci, the Netanyahu government is also very capable of bringing undone decades of political capital for nothing more than pride and short-term gain.
In famous Scorsese films such as Casino and Goodfellas, the Joe Pesci character is prone to overestimating the protections that others have provided him, and shows very little regard for de-escalation tactics.
This causes catastrophic reputational damage to his most loyal supporters and lifelong friends, while also creating enemies for anyone who is associated with them.
This archetype is defined by excessive and needless acts of explosive violence, followed by a concerningly nonchalant response to the fall-out that follows.
In films like Home Alone, the Joe Pesci character stubbornly perseveres with illegal operations inside other peoples homes, against all better judgement – leading to him being relentlessly attacked by an underdeveloped adversary who is left to defend the family property without any experienced leadership and with far less resources.
As unrest grows amongst Israelis over the direction of their country’s leadership, the ‘House Of The Rising Sun’ is now playing to a montage of violent scenes, as the Netanayhu government attempts to address multiplying conflicts with both friends and foes.
The Joe Pesci of the Middle East is growing ever closer to being officially listed in the US Federal government’s Black Book, which will severe him from all political favours that have been banked by his outfit over the last century, and result him being banned from every casino in Nevada.
