Israel’s military success against Iran undermines one incentive for Saudi normalization and raises concerns about its growing power.

Asia’s dependence on Middle East oil and gas — and its relatively slow shift to clean energy — make it vulnerable to disruptions in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic weakness highlighted by the war between Israel and Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likes to remind people that in the disorienting first days after Hamas’ Oct_ 7, 2023, attack, he predicted Israel would “change the Middle East.”