The new frenemies

A CARTOON in one Saudi newspaper shows an Iranian official juggling four countries in which Tehran has increasing influence: Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon. Another shows him sporting a suicide belt composed of Islamic State (IS) militants. These days caricatures of “the Persians” are more common than those pillorying “the Jews” or Israel, the Arab world’s long-standing nemesis.

So eyebrows lifted less than might have been expected when on June 4th Saudi Arabia and Israel admitted at a conference in America that they have held a series of meetings. Their improving ties are a manifestation of shared strategic interests, says Ilan Mizrahi, a former head of Israel’s National Security Council. “Like us, the Saudis are worried about Iran, IS and the fear that America is no longer so committed.”