February 16, 2009 - 16:05 AMT
Antoine Sfeir: Tehran and Jerusalem will be allies soon
Iran and Israel can seal a bargain, a French authority on Islam said.

"The current situation is a historical mistake which will be corrected," said Antoine Sfeir Director of Les Cahiers de l'Orient Contemporain, Paris, France.

"Tehran and Jerusalem will be allies soon and they will offer Ankara to join their union. Israel, Iran and Turkey used to be United States' allies and will become such one day," he said.

Prof. Sfeir reminded that residents of Iran are not Arabs but Persians. "Those who are afraid of Iran should not forget that Iran is a Shiite state surrounded by Sunnis," he said.

"Iran needs a strategic partner. It could conclude an alliance with Israel."

Prof. Sfeir voiced an opinion that U.S. President Barack Obama will break the ice between the U.S. and Iranian relations, thus opening a new era of relations in the Middle East, MIGnews.com reports.