Israel Faces Robust Balancing Act on Russia and the West

Israel, although closely depending on assist from the USA, Germany and different Western nations, has been noticeably out of step with them in the case of relations with Russia throughout its warfare of conquest in Ukraine.

Lengthy earlier than Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7, the nation refused Ukrainian requests to ship arms or to use widespread sanctions on Russia, together with stopping flights to the nation. Regardless of the eagerness of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, himself Jewish, to go to the nation and present solidarity after the assault, he has by no means made the journey.

The explanations replicate Israel’s distinctive safety wants and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s delicate relationship with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, a major supporter of Israel’s enemies within the area whom Israel can’t afford to offend.

As Israel’s warfare with Hamas enters its sixth month, Mr. Netanyahu wants Mr. Putin’s good will to assist constrain Iran particularly and to continue to strike Iranian targets in Syria whereas attempting to keep away from harming the forces Russia maintains there.

So Mr. Netanyahu has persistently given the Russian chief huge latitude, even on the danger of alienating Israel’s major allies in Europe and the USA.

“Israel is playing on a delicate tightrope,” stated Emmanuel Navon, the Israel-based government director of ELNET Israel, a nongovernmental group that seeks to strengthen diplomatic ties between Israel and Europe.

However whilst Israel treads flippantly in the case of Russia, the connection stays vastly lopsided. Mr. Putin has been a vocal critic of Israel, utilizing condemnation of Israel’s warfare in Gaza to attraction to the World South, a time period for a casual group of growing and underdeveloped international locations, a few of whom have been vital of the USA, Europe and the present world order.

After Hamas’s Oct. 7 assault, which Israeli authorities say killed about 1,200 folks, most of them civilians, Mr. Putin stated nothing for 3 days. Then, with out expressing condolences for Israel or the victims, the Russian chief criticized the USA, calling Oct. 7 “a clear example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East.”

Ever since, Russia has been vocal in condemning Israel’s warfare in opposition to Hamas, which has killed greater than 31,000, together with combatants, however a majority of the entire are ladies and kids, in line with Gazan well being authorities.

“When Oct. 7 rolled around, Putin found a ready-made issue, not to break relations with Israel, but to begin distancing” Russia from Israel, stated Aaron David Miller, a former American diplomat on the Carnegie Endowment for Worldwide Peace.

On the United Nations, Russia has questioned Israel’s right to self-defense and repeatedly referred to as for a humanitarian cease-fire to halt Israel’s navy marketing campaign. Russia has additionally amplified pro-Hamas views online.

Russian officers have expressed sympathy or assist for South Africa’s cost on the Worldwide Court docket of Justice that Israel is committing genocide, which Israel denies.

On the similar time, Russia has additionally used the warfare in Gaza to defend its personal warfare in Ukraine. The West, it argues, has been hypocritical to sentence Russia’s assaults on civilians in Ukraine whereas supporting what it considers to be comparable Israeli assaults on civilians in Gaza.

In late October, Russia hosted a Hamas delegation in Moscow, which the Israeli overseas ministry referred to as “reprehensible.” In late February, Russia hosted one other Hamas delegation for a gathering of Palestinians in Moscow.

After a December call between Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Putin, which Mr. Miller of Carnegie stated mirrored the stress between the 2 nations, Mr. Netanyahu stated he had criticized Russia for supporting Iran, whereas Mr. Putin stated he had criticized Israel for the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

Up to now, Mr. Netanyahu had boasted of his glorious relationship with Mr. Putin and his self-described potential to take care of nice powers. Now “that relationship is more of a liability than an advantage,” Mr. Miller stated.

Simply final Friday, the Russian ambassador to Tel Aviv, Anatoly Viktorov, was referred to as to the Israeli International Workplace to protest remarks by Russian officers on the United Nations casting doubt on a U.N. report supporting findings of sexual violence by Hamas. In early February, Russia summoned the Israeli ambassador to Moscow, Simona Halperin, over “unacceptable remarks” that they stated distorted Russia’s overseas coverage.

The deepening connection between Russia and Iran in the course of the Ukraine warfare has additionally raised considerations for Israeli and American officers. Tehran has supplied Moscow with drones, missiles and different weaponry.

Arkady Mil-Man, a former Israeli ambassador to Russia now on the Institute for Nationwide Safety Research at Tel Aviv College, stated that Mr. Netanyahu appeared to disregard that “Israel is perceived as an enemy by the Russians.”

The connection between Israel and Russia would solely worsen, he stated, as a result of “the Russians chose a clearly anti-Israeli side.”

However Israel can hardly afford a break in relations.

A major variety of Israeli residents emigrated from the previous Soviet Union and made their lives in Israel. However Israel nonetheless has a stake in searching for the Jewish inhabitants that continues to be in Russia. In late October, a mob stormed a Russian airport to seek for Jews on an incoming flight from Israel.

“We want to maintain the door open,” stated Sarah Fainberg, the director of Tel Aviv College’s analysis program on Russia and China’s function within the Center East. It was vital that the Jewish Company, a nonprofit that helps Jews immigrate to Israel, remained operational in Russia, she stated: “We want to be able to rescue this population in times of emergency.”

Whereas antisemitism isn’t new in Russia, Ms. Fainberg stated, Mr. Putin’s new antagonism towards Israel has raised considerations. “Formerly, we thought there was an antisemitic Russia but a pro-Jewish president,” she stated. “Now things have changed.”