Amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s response has raised concerns about his true sympathies towards Israel. While Israel had previously expressed gratitude to Putin for returning the remains of an Israeli serviceman, tensions have emerged as Putin remained silent about the current conflict for three days and refrained from reaching out to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Additionally, Russia’s stance prevented the United Nations Security Council from condemning Hamas, and Putin criticized the United States for its Middle East policies.
Analysts suggest that the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as the wider war in the region, could benefit Russia and its allies. Russia, along with Iran, North Korea, and China, is part of an informal anti-Western coalition and has a vested interest in distracting attention from the situation in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of wanting to trigger a war in the Middle East to undermine global unity and divert aid from Ukraine.
The Middle East conflict could also have broader implications for the stability of the Eurasian region, potentially disrupting economic ties and hindering macroeconomic integration. A delayed peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which could have facilitated closer economic integration, contradicts the interests of Moscow and Beijing.
While there is no direct evidence of Moscow’s involvement in Hamas’s attack on Israel, experts suggest that Putin’s interests lie in escalating the conflict and widening its geographic scope. Such a war could distract the West, undermine aid to Ukraine, and potentially lead to a significant increase in oil and gas prices, providing Russia with additional income.
Despite the history of Russia’s complicated relationship with Israel, including its ties to Syria and support for the Palestinian cause, every major Israeli politician has attempted to cultivate ties with Moscow. Netanyahu, in particular, has had a personal relationship with Putin, which he claims has prevented a war between Russia and Israel over conflicting interests in Syria.
However, tensions between Russia and Israel have persisted, with Moscow taking anti-Israeli actions, such as threatening to close down a Jewish emigration NGO and accusing the Israeli ambassador in Ukraine of “whitewashing Nazism.” The Kremlin continues to perpetuate the narrative of a “neonazi junta” in Ukraine, despite Ukrainian President Zelenskyy being an ethnic Jew.
As the conflict in the Middle East unfolds, the implications for Russia’s relationship with Israel and its broader geopolitical interests remain uncertain. The ongoing tensions highlight the complexity of Russia’s role in the region and its potential to influence global dynamics.
