The Middle East, a region long defined by cycles of terror, proxy wars, and the looming threat of Iranian nuclear power, is on the verge of a historic transformation.
For decades, Western diplomats and foreign policy "experts" clung to the fantasy that appeasing Iran, empowering terror proxies, and endlessly chasing a failed two-state solution would bring peace.
It never did.
In fact, it was that failed paradigm that fueled instability, emboldened terrorists, and gave Iran the breathing room to edge ever closer to nuclear weapons.
But that era is now over.
Israel’s recent, devastating military strikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure have shattered the region’s power dynamics. For the first time in decades, the fear that Tehran would one day wield nuclear weapons as a tool of blackmail has been erased.
This was not just another skirmish. It was a clear, surgical, and courageous act that changed the rules of the game. And what followed was even more revealing.
When Iran was hit, where were its so-called allies?
Where was Hamas?
Where was Hezbollah?
For years, these terror organizations have postured as Iran’s frontline warriors, claiming they would set the region ablaze if Israel ever dared to act against Tehran.
But when the moment came, they folded. Hamas didn’t step up.
Hezbollah stayed in its bunker. The silence from Iran’s proxies was deafening. When it counted, they chose self-preservation over resistance..
Iran is many things — dangerous, brutal, and ideologically extreme — but it is not stupid. Tehran knows a failed investment when it sees one.
If Hamas and Hezbollah cannot deliver when it matters most, Iran has no reason to continue propping them up.
Don’t be surprised if we soon see Iran quietly begin cutting them loose. The Islamic Republic’s survival instinct will kick in, and the costly, high-risk support of ineffective proxies will suddenly become expendable.
At the same time, the ceasefire now emerging is not simply a temporary pause in hostilities. It is the first tremor of a far greater shift.
For decades, the Arab world used Israel as a convenient scapegoat, a unifying enemy to distract from their own failures. But that story has collapsed.
Behind closed doors and increasingly in public, Arab leaders understand that Israel is not the problem — it is part of the solution.
It's an anchor of regional stability. It is the best hedge against Iranian aggression, the strongest partner for intelligence and security, and the engine of technological and economic opportunity.
We are on the cusp of a breakthrough that will dramatically reshape the Middle East. Several countries are already positioning themselves to join the circle of peace. They see the writing on the wall. They know the days of isolating Israel are over.
The Abraham Accords opened that door, but Israel’s recent military success has busted it wide open. Iran is no longer the intimidating regional bully. It has been exposed as weak, overextended, and fundamentally vulnerable.
But let’s be clear — the linchpin to this new Middle East is Saudi Arabia. When the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia makes peace with Israel — and that day is rapidly approaching—it will trigger a cascade across the region. Others will follow. The old political architecture will crumble.
The symbolic power of Riyadh normalizing relations with Jerusalem would be the final death blow to the decades-old strategy of isolating Israel.
Peace between Saudi Arabia and Israel would send a message that the Arab world is moving forward. It would announce to Iran and its few remaining allies that their game is over.
It would signal to the global community that a new coalition is emerging — one rooted not in appeasement of tyrants, but in partnership among strong, pragmatic nations who are willing to confront evil, defend their sovereignty, and build a future based on shared interests.
This is not a hypothetical.
The pieces are moving right now.
The ceasefire signals it.
The silence of Iran’s proxies confirms it.
The speed at which Arab nations are now recalibrating their foreign policies reflects it.
And Israel, through its courage and strength, has accelerated it.
For too long, the West’s so-called diplomats and policy architects told us that peace could only come through endless concessions, that Israel had to shrink itself, weaken itself, and beg for acceptance. Israel proved them wrong.
Strength — not surrender — is the key to peace.
Moral clarity — not moral equivalence — is the path forward. And regional security will be built not on the backs of terror networks, but on the foundation of nations willing to stand together against them.
A new Middle East is emerging before our eyes.
It will not be perfect.
It will not be free of tension or rivalry.
But it will be fundamentally different from the stagnant, toxic order it replaces.
And at the center of this new paradigm will be Israel — strong, respected, indispensable.
The map is changing. The alliances are shifting. And history is moving fast. The world should pay attention. The new Middle East is not just possible — it's happening now.
Robert Chernin is a business leader, political adviser, and podcast host. He has been a consultant on presidential, senatorial, congressional, and gubernatorial races, including roles in the campaigns of George W. Bush and John McCain. Robert serves as chairman of Israel Appreciation Day, American Center for Education and Knowledge, and The American Coalition. Read Robert Chernin's Reports — More Here.
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