Arab States Even during this early period, more than 20 years before the threat of State Terrorism emerged, Israel viewed its position in the region in terms of political legitimacy—the nascent state jockeyed for alliances that would create a strong foundation of political fortitude and showcase its strength as an independent state. Additionally, it is important to note and is observable from these early pulses of non-Arab alliance building that Israel, in some ways, has always been on the defense. The state, since its formation, has navigated its political aspirations from a geographic point of weakness and, as a result, has aimed to strengthen its position by reaching out to other potential non-Arab allies, namely, Iran. “We had very deep relations with Iran, cutting deep into the fabric of the two peoples,” one high-ranking official at the Israeli Foreign Ministry said. That relationship would prove to be valuable two decades later when, as Israel envisioned, surrounding Arab states, including Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, directed their aggression at the Jewish state in what came to be known as the Six-Day War