Israel and Iran as Andor Characters

Israeli fighter jets circle unopposed over Iran while rebel fighters hide in tunnels.

Does this bring any image to mind? It does to me: Star Wars.

Is Israel the Empire?

is a question I asked myself, and decided to have a conversation with my AI chatbot about. And it appears my chatbot understands world geopolitics better than US Senator Ted Cruz. 

Our conclusions are below:

Israel — Power and Privilege

In Andor, the Empire is defined by its overwhelming military might, bureaucratic control, and stark social hierarchies. The Empire's capital, Coruscant, is a gleaming metropolis where the elite live in luxury, insulated from the struggles of oppressed worlds. 

Israel is a regional powerhouse in the Middle East, boasting advanced military technology, a robust economy, and a sophisticated urban society. 

The opulence of Tel Aviv's fine dining scene at upscale restaurants like Loullie or Catit parallels the wedding party scene in Andor (Season 2, Episode 3), where Imperial elites mingle in luxury, oblivious to the rebellion. Both Tel Aviv's elite and the Empire's upper class exist in bubbles of privilege, sustained by systems of control - Israel's through its military and intelligence apparatus, and the Empire's through its stormtroopers and surveillance state. 

Iran and the Rebel Forces — Asymmetric Resistance

In Andor, the rebel forces are scrappy, underfunded, and reliant on guerrilla tactics to challenge the Empire's dominance. They operate from hidden bases, using inferior weapons and stolen resources to strike at vulnerabilities. 

Iran, in its regional rivalry with Israel, adopts a similar approach. Facing economic sanctions and military disparities, Iran relies on asymmetric strategies, including proxy militias like Hezbollah, ballistic missiles, and guerrilla tactics. Much like the rebels in Andor scavenging for supplies, Iran's forces often repurpose or develop low-cost technologies to counter Israel's advanced systems, such as the Iron Dome.

The rebels' hideouts in Andor, like the Aldhani base, mirror Iran's strategy of operating through proxies in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, avoiding direct confrontation with superior forces. Both the rebels and Iran face a daunting power gap but leverage resilience and unconventional tactics to persist. For example, Iran's use of drones in regional conflicts echoes the rebels' reliance on improvised explosives to disrupt Imperial operations, illustrating a shared ethos of resistance against overwhelming odds.

Gaza Strip — An Occupied Planet

The Gaza Strip, under Israel's blockade and periodic military operations, parallels the occupied planets in Andor Season 2, such as Narkina 5, where the Empire enforces control through surveillance and force. Gaza's residents face restricted movement, limited resources, and frequent airstrikes, much like the prisoners on Narkina 5 endure constant monitoring and harsh labor conditions. The Empire's occupation strips planets of autonomy, exploiting their resources and people, just as Gaza's economy and infrastructure are stifled by Israel's security measures. The resilience of Gazans, organizing protests or makeshift defenses, mirrors the quiet defiance of Andor's prisoners, who eventually spark rebellion despite overwhelming odds.

Countries Aligning with the Empire for Economic Gain

In Andor, some planets and factions align with the Empire for economic stability or protection, trading sovereignty for benefits. Similarly, countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have, at times, cooperated with Israel for economic and strategic advantages, such as trade deals or countering Iran's influence. These nations parallel systems in Andor that profit from Imperial contracts, like the corporate zones supplying the Empire's war machine. While publicly neutral or critical of Israel, these countries engage in backchannel diplomacy - akin to Andor's senators, who secretly profit from Imperial policies while maintaining a facade of independence.

The Empire's Superficial Democracy

The Empire in Andor maintains a veneer of democracy through the Imperial Senate, where open debates occur despite real power lying with the military and Emperor Palpatine. This mirrors Israel's democratic system, which, while functional with elections and a Knesset, often sees security decisions dominated by military and intelligence leaders. 

In Andor, the Senate's discussions are performative, with key policies - like the Public Order Resentencing Directive - imposed by military decree. Similarly, Israel's military operations, such as airstrikes or settlement expansions, often bypass extensive parliamentary debate, driven by security imperatives framed as existential. This reveals how democratic institutions can be overshadowed by militarized decision-making.

Imperial Propaganda and Narrative Control

The Empire in Andor uses propaganda to paint rebels as terrorists, controlling the narrative to justify its oppression. The Imperial Security Bureau spreads fear of rebellion to maintain order, framing the Empire as a force for stability. 

Similarly, Israel's media and international messaging often depict Iran and its proxies as existential threats, emphasizing Hamas or Hezbollah's actions while downplaying Palestinian or regional grievances. This narrative control shapes public perception, much like the Empire's broadcasts vilifying Aldhani's rebels. Iran, conversely, uses state media to portray itself as a resistance beacon, akin to the rebels' covert holovids inspiring hope, though both sides manipulate truth to rally support.

Societal Disparities and Conflict

The contrast between Tel Aviv's affluent dining scene and the struggles of marginalized communities in Israel-Palestine mirrors the Empire's glittering cities versus its exploited colonies in Andor. While Tel Aviv's elite enjoy Michelin-starred meals, Palestinians in Gaza or the West Bank face restrictions and economic hardship, much like the Ferrix workers toiling under Imperial oversight. This disparity fuels resentment, akin to the simmering unrest that drives the rebellion in Andor.

Similarly, Iran's leadership portrays itself as a champion of the oppressed, rallying support against Israel, much as the rebels in Andor frame their fight as a moral crusade against tyranny. However, both Iran and the rebels face internal challenges - economic stagnation in Iran and ideological fractures among rebel factions - complicating their efforts to sustain resistance.

Yemen and Hezbollah — Rebel Allies

Yemen's Houthi rebels and Hezbollah resemble the loosely coordinated rebel factions in Andor that support the broader anti-Imperial cause. In Andor, groups like Saw Gerrera's partisans operate independently but share the rebels' goal of undermining the Empire. Similarly, the Houthis and Hezbollah function as semi-autonomous allies of Iran, striking at Israel or its interests with limited resources. The Houthis' missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes mirror the hit-and-run tactics of Andor's rebels, who sabotage Imperial outposts with minimal firepower. Hezbollah's tunnel networks and rocket arsenals in Lebanon echo the rebels' use of hidden bases and scavenged weapons, emphasizing resilience over conventional strength.

Both Yemen and Hezbollah face internal challenges - poverty and war in Yemen, political isolation in Lebanon - akin to the rebels' struggles with scarce supplies and ideological divides. Yet, their alignment with Iran's broader strategy reflects the rebels' reliance on figures like Luthen Rael, who coordinate disparate groups toward a common goal, despite occasional mistrust or competing agendas.

Israel — The Upholder of "Order"

Israel frequently casts itself as a champion of order, development, and technology within the Middle East. The radiant skyline of Tel Aviv, with its towering skyscrapers and flowing highways, serves as a vivid emblem of this modern, orderly society, rooted in technological advancement and thriving trade. 

Conversely, Israel often depicts its adversaries - such as Hamas and other resistance factions - as subhuman, portraying their guerrilla strategies and defiance as savage threats to civilized stability. This portrayal echoes the Galactic Empire's tactics in Andor, where rebels are dehumanized as terrorists to rationalize the Empire's iron-fisted rule, revealing a striking parallel in how dominant powers demonize challengers to uphold their self-proclaimed ideals of order and prosperity.

The Death Star

Israel's nuclear arsenal of an estimated 80–400 warheads, serves as a cornerstone of its military dominance in the Middle East, projecting an aura of unassailable power akin to the Death Star in Andor's Galactic Empire. 

The Death Star, a moon-sized battle station capable of annihilating entire planets, symbolizes the Empire's ultimate weapon to enforce compliance and instill fear. 

Both represent a pinnacle of military might designed to deter aggression — Israel against Iran and its proxies, and the Empire against rebellious planets. 

Historical Oppressors and Perceived Threats

Throughout history, many oppressors have justified their violence by perceiving themselves as oppressed, or facing existential threats, a dynamic mirrored in both Andor and the Israel-Iran conflict. Empires like Rome crushed rebellions while claiming barbarian invasions endangered their civilization, just as the Galactic Empire in Andor frames rebels as terrorists threatening galactic stability. Similarly, Israel often portrays its military actions as defensive responses to existential dangers posed by Iran's proxies or Palestinian resistance, despite its regional dominance. This paradox — where oppressors act violently out of a sense of victimhood — highlights how fear and power intertwine, fueling cycles of conflict in both historical and fictional realms.

Final Note

This article is a thought experiment, using the lens of Andor to draw parallels with the Israel-Iran conflict and offer fresh perspectives. The real-world situation is far more nuanced, shaped by historical grievances, cultural complexities, and geopolitical intricacies that defy simple analogies. The Israel-Iran conflict demands a deeper, more grounded understanding than a good vs bad analysis to navigate its human toll and moral ambiguities.