Israel and the United States have good reason to take hard line on Iran

The dislike of Israel, even hatred, that is evident in much of Europe leads to all sorts of distortions.

People who think of themselves as politically liberal minded often give Israel no credit for being one of the most modern societies in the world when it comes to matters such as gender equality.

The same people seem never to criticise Israel’s neighbours, all of whom are ultra reactionary cultures and most of whom are somewhere on the failed state spectrum.

Few nations in the Middle East are as repressive as Iran. This clerical run society has massive social problems, rooted in its almost medieval view of how a country should be organised.

There are liberal strains within Iran but it is still a society that interprets Islam in such as way as to think it is acceptable to hang people from cranes for certain crimes.

For decades Iran has been a nation that uses terrorism abroad to advance its international aims.

This has been tolerated to a remarkable extent. Even the Americans have very rarely retaliated against Iran.

Under President Donald Trump this changed. He tore up the Iran nuclear deal. And earlier this year he assassinated General Qasem Soleimani, a ruthless military leader.

It is unclear who on Friday killed Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the man who is reputed to have been in charge of Iran’s nuclear programme. The Israelis are possible suspects.

There is speculation that America approved such an attack, ahead of Mr Trump leaving the White House, and as a warning to Joe Biden not to go soft on Iran.

This is a very dangerous situation.

But who can be surprised that elements within Iran are mooting reprisals such as a massacre in the vulnerable Israeli city of Haifa.

Iran has long been steeped in civilian bloodshed.

It would be a remarkably naive westerner who took Iran’s side against Israel, whatever the faults of the latter. But there are plenty such naive people around.

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