Russia and Israel take different paths to the promised land

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MOSCOW. (Artur Gabdrakhmanov, RIA Novosti bureau chief in Israel) - Russian-Israeli relations can be divided into two parts: purely bilateral relations, and relations within the framework of crucial problems of the Middle East.

The former are noted for their progress in the development of economic, scientific and cultural relations, a desire to more fully use the available potential, and the absence of any obstacles to doing so.

The situation in the latter sphere is mainly viewed in Israel through the prism of bilateral contradictions.

Israelis have a painful attitude to the military-technical cooperation between Russia and Syria and Iran, the construction of the nuclear power plant in Bushehr with Russia's assistance, the Kremlin's wariness of sanctions against Tehran, and its contacts with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Palestinian government.

All of the above issues provoke emotional articles in the press and criticism from politicians, and are also discussed at special meetings of the Israeli government.

And yet, Israelis see the existence of contradictions not as a reason for confrontation, but rather as an impetus for promoting dialogue with Russia. One of the reasons for this is the absence of other, more effective levers of influence on Russia's Mideast policy.

Even the sharpest critics of Russia, especially in the Russian-speaking community, are not against promoting relations with Russia. Apart from economic and other dividends, such relations increase the importance of Israel for the Kremlin and turn Russia into a negotiating party that more readily listens to Israel's arguments.

Herb Keinon of The Jerusalem Post, who probably knows more than any other journalist in Israel about the intricacy of bilateral relations, described Israel's policy toward Russia as "containment through engagement."

He wrote on October 17, 2006: "Israel's policy - despite its disagreements with Moscow on a number of issues - is to keep Moscow ‘inside the tent,' because of the belief that if they were ‘pushed outside,' the Russians could do a great deal of damage to Israel's vital interests."

That emotional view of bilateral relations is characteristic of the public and the media who serve it. But experts do not dramatize the alleged antagonism in Russian-Israeli relations.

They usually say that Russia and Israel, although they have "tactical" differences in the assessment of challenges and ways of attaining goals, also have a strategic understanding regarding basic values, principles and goals.

Take Hamas and its government. Israel and Russia agree that Hamas must recognize the right of Israel to exist as a state, renounce violence, and fulfill a package of previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

However, Israel is trying to attain this goal by blockading and isolating the Palestinian territories, whereas Russia believes it is possible to talk with Hamas and has called for lifting the burden of political and economic sanctions off of the Palestinians.

In short, Russia and Israel have a common goal but are using different methods to attain it.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.
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