The state and prospects of Russian-Israeli relations

Abstract

Relations between our country and Israel have generally developed in a positive way throughout the modern history of Russia: both parties got used to take into consideration each other's positions, observe so-called “red lines” and the interests of the partner. Today, against the background of the events in the Ukraine and the anti-Russian campaign launched by the West, to which the Israeli leaders have partly joined, the Russian-Israeli relations have entered a period of crisis, which threatens the future of multi-format bilateral cooperation. Several factors aff ect the state of the Russian-Israeli relations: the Iranian nuclear program and the situation in Syria, the Middle East settlement, as well as issues of Russian property in Israel, above all the status of the Alexander Compound. Washington's desire to draw Israel into the confrontation with Russia by all means including the problems that have arisen due to the events in the Ukraine, has become a catalyst for the process of degradation of bilateral relations. This situation can be reversed if Israel shows greater political fl exibility and will in resisting the pressure by American administration, which is interested in undermining the established ties between Tel Aviv and Moscow, and trust between the leaders of the countries. The Israeli establishment should make a revision of the current policy towards Russia, work out in advance all the consequences of the deterioration of bilateral relations, as it will cause a negative effect for the whole Middle East considering the weight of Russia in the region as also in a global dimension. If maintained, the current course of the Israeli authorities will inevitably lead to a complication of the internal political situation in Israel itself in view of almost 2 million of so-called "Russian Israelis" referred to immigrants from our country and other former Soviet republics, who appreciate the decisive role of the USSR and the Red Army in the Victory over Nazism as well as the common memory of the Holocaust tragedy.