After the tragic disaster in Lebanon, two new events have drawn attention to this region: the increased tension in the Mediterranean following the movement of Turkey for the search and appropriation of gas fields in maritime zones contested by Greece, and the agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Although these two events cover different problems, they are nonetheless closely linked to a common reality: the redefinition of the balance of power within imperialism in a region particularly sensitive in terms of its geostrategic and energy issues.
With the USSR gone, the ground is left vacant for imperialist interventions including major military interventions in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya... which have considerably altered regional data.
The former duopoly of alliances around the USSR and the USA which ensured a conflictual balance in which the future of Palestine was one of the major subjects, was replaced by a general confrontation in which new axes of Alliances are forged around regional powers, acting on behalf of major imperialist forces, but also on their own behalf.
These regional powers: Israel, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia are trying to expand their influence. They are at the root of and intervene directly in the ongoing conflicts, especially in Syria and Libya. There is clearly an axis around Turkey which intends to take advantage of its ambivalent alliances both within NATO and with Russia to push its pawns in the Mediterranean. Deprived of gas and oil energy resources, it tries to impose by force its "right" to seek out and exploit these resources in maritime areas contested by Greece. The latter, a member of the European Union and NATO, like Turkey, is seeking shelter and support there, which is causing an escalation to which France is no stranger. In these conditions what’s more natural for Turkey to affirm its support for the Palestinian people so as to rally to its cause the countries of the region which are under its wing and to hold nationalist and "anti-imperialist" speeches! On this matter, Greece is no exception and is also fueling the nationalist ferment.
The Turkish and Greek peoples have nothing to gain from this confrontation, this is what the Communist Parties of Greece and Turkey underline in a joint statement: “The two Communist Parties note that relations between the two countries are further complicated by the competition between the bourgeois classes of Greece and Turkey to become the energy hub and a transit center, and by their bitter struggle for the distribution of energy wealth in the region. This is part of the larger conflict between the bourgeois classes, monopolies and imperialist alliances that have already spilled the blood of the peoples of Syria and Libya and now threatens the Persian Gulf. These conflicting interests have nothing to do with the interests of the peoples. "
The agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is part of the same search for redefining the balance of power; its dominant feature is to build an alliance in opposition to Iran and Turkey. It is noticeable that the relations between these two countries are not new, what is new is that they are formalized and formalize the abandonment of the Palestinian people whose symbolic support is no longer of any interest compared to the weight of the competition within imperialism. The UAE is not alone, it is joining Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia in official or unofficial relations with Israel. Of course these alliances are supported by the USA. One of the major promoters of the UAE-Israel deal is none other than Trump's son-in-law behind the sinister plan to annex much of Palestine by Israel! So, the UAE's claims that with their agreement they have stopped the annexation is a cynical joke.
All the events in the Mediterranean, Middle and Near East area must therefore be read and analyzed with reference to the nature of the clashes within an imperialist system whose clashes are exacerbating. The redefinition of regional and global power relations is only deepening. No continent escapes this bitter struggle: this is the case in Europe, we see it with Ukraine and more recently Belarus, it is the case on the African continent, in Asia and in America.
We must understand the dangers posed by these imperialist struggles and wars, which are accompanied by a rise in the military capabilities of most states. For the peoples, the workers, the alternative is simple: either to follow in the footsteps of their capitalist bourgeoisie and ultimately to become their cannon fodder or to engage in the class struggle to destroy what is at the root of these clashes ie the capitalist system and the monopolies.