Russia and the Arab–Israeli conflict

Arab-Israeli conflict

Russia is a member of the Quartet on the Middle East. For related developments prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, see the article Soviet Union and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Russia's return to the Middle East

After 2001 the government of Vladimir Putin intensified Russia's involvement in the region, supporting Iran's nuclear programs and forgiving Syria 73% of its $13 billion debt. [ [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2005/eu_russia_01_26.html Russia, Syria sign agreement for major arms deal] (World Tribune) January 26, 2005]

In his September 10, 2004 article "Middle East Horizons of Russian Foreign Politics: Russia returns to one of the world's key regions", Mikhail Margelov, the Head of the Foreign Relations Council of the Russian Federation, wrote:

"President Putin called for the renewal of contacts with the countries with which Russia maintained long friendly relations and invested a lot of material and intellectual resources. The Arab countries constitute a large part of those counties. ... In general, the positions of Russia and the majority of Arab countries on key issues of development of the political situation in the region coincide." [ru icon [http://arabeski.globalrus.ru/opinions/132943/ Middle East Horizons of Russian Politics: Russia returns to one of the World's Key Regions] by Mikhail Margelov, The president of the Committee for International Affairs of the Russian Federation]

According to March 2007 brief entitled "Russia's New Middle Eastern Policy: Back to Bismarck?" by Ariel Cohen (Institute for Contemporary Affairs),

"Syria ... was supplying Hizbullah with Russian weapons. In 2006, Israeli forces found evidence of the Russian-made Kornet-E and Metis-M anti-tank systems in Hizbullah's possession in southern Lebanon. The Russian response to accusations that it was supplying terrorist groups with weapons was an announcement, in February 2007, that Russia's military will conduct inspections of Syrian weapons storage facilities with the goal ofpreventing the weapons from reaching unintended customers.Predictably, such developments placed considerable strain on the already-deteriorating relations between Russia and Israel...

For several years Russia has been attempting to engage in military cooperation with both Israel and Syria. However, the levels of cooperation with the two states are inversely related and an escalation of arms sales to Syria can only damage the relationship with Israel. Russian-Syrian military cooperation has gone through numerous stages: high levels of cooperation during the Soviet era, which was virtually halted until 2005, and now Russia's attempt to balance its relationship with both Israel and Syria. However, Russia's recent eastward leanings might indicate that Moscow is prepared to enter a new stage in its military cooperation with Syria, even if this is to the detriment of its relationship with Israel. [ [http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DRIT=1&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=380&PID=0&IID=1540&TTL=Russia%E2%80%99s_New_Middle_Eastern_Policy:_Back_to_Bismarck? Russia's New Middle Eastern Policy: Back to Bismarck?] by Ariel Cohen. Jerusalem Issue Brief. Institute for Contemporary Affairs. Vol. 6, No. 25. March 20, 2007]

Russian-Hamas talks, 2006

The Russia-Hamas talks of 2006 began on March 3, 2006, when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to discuss the future of the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after Hamas became the majority party of the Palestinian National Authority Legislative Council, having won a majority of seats in the Palestinian elections. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by Australia, [ [http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/www/nationalsecurity.nsf/AllDocs/95FB057CA3DECF30CA256FAB001F7FBD?OpenDocument Listing of Terrorist Organisations] , Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, 27 January 2006. Accessed July 31, 2006.] Canada, [ [http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#hhi18 Keeping Canadians Safe] , Public Security and Emergency Preparedness Canada, National Security, Listed entities. Accessed July 31, 2006.] ["Hamas is listed as a terrorist group in the Criminal Code of Canada." Tibbetts, Janice. [http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=3c639723-98b1-4db5-89c2-2a08a0233763&k=11673 Canada shuts out Hamas] ,"The Montreal Gazette", March 30, 2006.] the European Union, [http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_340/l_34020051223en00640066.pdf "Council Decision"] Council of the European Union, December 21, 2005] Israel, [ [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/7/The%20Financial%20Sources%20of%20the%20Hamas%20Terror%20Organiza The Financial Sources of the Hamas Terror Organization] ] Japan, [ [http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/2005/ch3-a.pdf Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook 2005] states that it has frozen the assets of "terrorist organizations, including... Hamas."] the United Kingdom, [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/proscribed-groups "UK Home Office"] ] and the United States, [http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/45394.htm "Country reports on terrorism"] , U.S. State Dept., April 27, 2005.] and is banned in Jordan.Karmi, Omar. [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=22307# "What does the Hamas victory mean for nearby Jordan?"] , "The Daily Star", February 18, 2006]

On February 10, 2006 Spanish parliament member told Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to "Kommersant" journalist Andrey Kolesnikov, that Putin does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization. [ [http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=648482 The President Tells Shamil Basaev from Hamas] (Kommersant)]

The perspective of giving legitimacy to Hamas have angered some Israeli officials. [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3213707,00.html Putin: Hamas not a terror organization] (Ynetnews)] A cabinet minister Meir Sheetrit accused Putin of "stabbing Israel in the back". After the interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert communicated with Putin, the Israeli position somewhat softened. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/28/AR2006022800522.html Israel softens Russia criticism over Hamas talks] (Washingtonpost)]

In an interview in Russian newspaper "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" published on February 13, 2006, Mashal said that Hamas would temporarily stop armed struggle against Israel if it recognized the "1967 borders" and withdrew itself from all "Palestinian territories" (including the West Bank and East Jerusalem). He refused to acknowledge the Road map for peace, adopted by the Quartet in June 2003, "since nobody respects it". The Road map projected the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in 2005.

Following Hamas' victory in January 2006, the EU announced that future aid to the Palestinians is tied to "Three Principles" outlined by the international community:
*Hamas must renounce violence
*Hamas must recognize Israel's right to exist
*Hamas must express clear support for the Middle East peace process, as outlined in the Oslo accords.

During the talks in March 2006, Lavrov called on the Hamas to comply with the earlier commitments signed by the PLO, and reiterated these three requirements but Hamasrefused. [ [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=22780 land-for-peace arab proposal] Daily Star]

On March 7, Russia expressed hope that Hamas would consider supporting the Road map for peace and peace plan proposed by Saudi Arabia, but it did not materialize. Israeli spokesman stated: "They (Hamas) did not accept any of those principles ... therefore I don't know where they (Russia) draw their optimism from Hamas changing its ways." [ [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07382405.htm Russia hopeful Hamas will support peace road map] (Reuters) March 7, 2006]

President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority said that he would oppose the creation of a Palestinian state with temporary borders and further Israel's unilateral withdrawals.

The invitation and the talks have caused controversy wherein Russia's intentions in changing its views towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were questioned in the West.

List of international terror groups

Russian list of international terrorism published in the official daily "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" on July 28, 2006 contained seventeen terror groups. It included al-Qaeda, Taliban, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood, as well as groups linked to separatist militants in Chechnya and Islamic radicals in Central Asia but omitted both Hamas and Hezbollah. Yury Sapunov, the top official of Russian Federal Security Service in charge of fighting international terrorism, said that the list "Includes only those organizations which represent the greatest threat to the security of our country." [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3282840,00.html Hamas, Hizbullah not on Russia's terror list] ]

Contacts with Hezbollah

Russian intelligence agencies have a history of contacts with Lebanese Shia organizations, such as Amal Movement and Hezbollah [http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah1.htm Dangerous liaisons: covert "love affair" between Russia and Hezbollah, part 1] ] [http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah2.htm Dangerous liaisons: covert "love affair" between Russia and Hezbollah, part 2] ] [http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah3.htm Dangerous liaisons: covert "love affair" between Russia and Hezbollah, part 3] ] [http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah4.htm Dangerous liaisons: covert "love affair" between Russia and Hezbollah, part 4] ] Russian-made anti-tank weapons played significant role in Hezbollah operations against Israel Defense Forces during 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. It was claimed that "Russian Fajr-1 and Fajr-3 rockets, Russian AT-5 Spandrel antitank missiles and Kornet antitank rockets" [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjUzMGU4NTMyOTdkOTdmNTA1MWJlYjYyZDliODZkOGM= Russian Footprints] - by Ion Mihai Pacepa, National Review Online, August 24, 2006 ] have been supplied to Hezbollah through Syria and Irancite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-hezbollah31aug31,0,177472,full.story?coll=la-headlines-world|title=Israel Says Syria, Not Just Iran, Supplied Missiles to Hezbollah|accessdate=2006-08-31|last=Spiegel|first=Peter|coauthors=Laura King|date=August 31, 2006|work=World News|publisher=Los Angeles Times] Muslim GRU detachments from Chechnya were transferred to Lebanon independently of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to guard the Russian military engineers (sent to Lebanon to restore the damaged roads) and "to improve Moscow’s image in the Arab and Muslim world". [http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=3354 Moscow posts two Chechen platoons in S. Lebanon, one headed by an ex-rebel commander, "to improve Russia's image in the Arab world"] ] .

Russian technical, military, and diplomatic aid to Iran

Currently, there are concerns that Israel will attack Iran pre-emptively because the nuclear program of Iran could be used eventually to produce nuclear weapons. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16509109/ Israel denies planning Iran nuclear attack, U.K. newspaper reports Israel intends to strike up to three targets in Iran] , The Associated Press, January 7, 2007; [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=10&u=/ap/20040929/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_iran_weapons Israel Takes Issue With Iran Weapons] , The Associated press, September 29, 2004; Tom Baldwin, James Hider, Francis Elliott, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2827787.ece US fears Israeli strike against Iran over latest nuclear claim] , The Times Online, November 8, 2007.] Russia provides technical assistance to Iran's nuclear program, supplies it with weapons, and gives it diplomatic support at the United Nations. [Herb Keinon, [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1187502426818&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull "Jerusalem sees Russian interests behind arms sales to Damascus] , "The Jerusalem Post", August 20, 2007; Michael Jasinski, [http://cns.miis.edu/research/iran/rusnuc.htm Russia's Nuclear and Missile Technology Assistance to Iran] ; Nasser Karimi, [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3ZOgW0rLhODJL3mrASw7b1ebABAOfficial: Russian Fuel Ready for Iran] , Associated Press, September 16, 2007.] In January 2007 Israeli officials voiced "extreme concern" over Russia's sale of advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. They warned: "We hope they understand that this is a threat that could come back to them as well." [Yaakov Katz and Herb Keinon, [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1167467745535&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Israel warns Russia on Iran arms sale] , "Jerusalem Post", January 16, 2007]

Before Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's trip to Russia, Israel's Cabinet voted to recognize Russia's claim to Sergei's Courtyard in downtown Jerusalem. Russia laid claim to the site, named for the son of a Russian czar, on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church. In an overture before the trip, Israel's Cabinet voted Sunday to recognize Russia's claim to property in downtown Jerusalem. Russia laid claim to the site, named for the son of a Russian czar, on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church. Olmert said he would urge Moscow not to sell sophisticated weapons to Israel's enemies. Iran is interested in buying anti-aircraft missiles that could cripple any military strike against its nuclear program. Israel is also afraid Moscow would sell Syria the same missile defense system. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has frequently called for Israel's destruction, and Israel suspects he means to carry out that objective by developing nuclear bombs with the help of a Russian-built nuclear power plant. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.Iran says it plans to buy from Russia advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles that could detect aircraft sent to destroy its nuclear facilities. Syria, which backs Hezbollah guerrillas who battled Israel in Lebanon in 2006, reportedly has asked to buy them, too. Russia has not confirmed the reports. But recently, Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said his government was prepared to sell Syria arms with a "defensive character." Israel claims Russian missiles sold to Syria made their way into the Hezbollah's hands in the 2006 war, though it has not accused Russia of directly arming the guerrilla group. After four decades of Cold War animosity, ties between Moscow and Israel improved significantly after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. Israel is also home to more than 1 million Soviet emigres. But Moscow's position on Iran and arms sales to Syria have strained ties, as have Israeli weapons sales to Georgia, which Russia briefly invaded in August in support of pro-Russia secessionists.

References

ee also

*Iran-Russia relations
*History of the Jews in Russia and the Soviet Union
*Ivan Safronov

External links

* [http://www.nixoncenter.org/publications/monographs/US_Russia_ME.pdf America, Russia, and the Greater Middle East. Challenges and Opportunities] (PDF) by Geoffrey Kemp and Paul Saunders (The Nixon Center) November 2003
* [http://www.mideasti.org/articles/doc348.html Russia in the Middle East: is Putin undertaking a new strategy?] by Dr. Robert Freedman (Middle East Institute) February 10, 2005
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1589600,00.html Putin denies Russia destabilising Middle East] by James Rose (The Times Online) April 28, 2005
* [http://countrystudies.us/russia/88.htm Russia in the Middle East] (U.S. Library of Congress. Country Studies)
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11436739/site/newsweek/ Past as Prologue. Russia: Moscow presents itself as the new 'middleman' in the Middle East] by Owen Matthews (Newsweek International) February 27, 2006
* [http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/berman200502180741.asp The Bear Is Back. Russia's Middle Eastern adventures] by Ilan Berman (National Review Online) February 18, 2005
* [http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=642 Russia is Ready for Dialogue With HAMAS] by Michel Elbaz, Sami Rosen, Pavel Simonov. February 3, 2006
* [http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=28507 The Middle East and Russia's New Game] February 15, 2006
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4769112.stm Moscow urges Hamas to transform] (BBC)
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4701312.stm Russia-Hamas talks anger Israel] (BBC)
* [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-03-03T182144Z_01_L02460679_RTRUKOC_0_US-RUSSIA-HAMAS.xml Reuters: Russia says Hamas ready to extend ceasefire] (with picture)
* [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1583774.htm ABC: Russia sets up Hamas talks]
*ru icon [http://old.lenta.ru/articles/2006/03/06/riddle/_Printed.htm Stanislav Belkovsky "Riddle of Vladimir Putin"]
* [http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=995 Russia Might Get Involved in the Middle East Conflict]

Further reading

*"Dangerous Drift: Russia's Middle East Policy" by Eugene Rumer (The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2000) ISBN 0-944029-44-2