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 longstanding 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."
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