motico
Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2010
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Hebrew
- Home Country
- Israel
- Current Location
- Israel
Thank you for correcting the paragraphs below:
Medvedev's announcements and his willingness to meet with Khalid Mash'al were criticized to a certain extent in Israel. Israeli Foreign Ministry headed by Avigdor Lieberman even went as far as comparing the meeting of the Russian president with Hamas' chief to a scenario in which an Israeli leader meets with the chief of the Chechen insurgents against whom Russia has been long time waging a bloody war.
The renewed activity of Russia in our region shouldn't come as a surprise or be a source of great concern. Even though it is irritating, there is no reason to take it too much seriously. Primarily, we should bear in mind that Russia is not the USSR. It is not hostile to Israel. Rather, it is acting in order to improve its relations with Israel and even tighten them.
The Russians strive to obtain bargaining chips by which they will be able to conduct tough bargaining with the US, on critical issues from Moscow's point of view, like: deploying American forces or missiles along the Russian border, or issues with regard to the American support for Russia's neighbors as: Georgia, Poland, Ukraine etc. Secondly, since the cash at the Russian treasury is running out, the Russians are looking for markets in order to sell the stockpiles of their superfluous Russian production military equipment.
Russia understands that if it wanted to play a role in advancing a peace process in the region, it would be possible only if it coordinated its policy with Israel. Such coordination doesn't mean that Russia will 100 % agree with Israel nor does it mean developing relations with Hamas as long as this organization ignores Israel's right of existence.
Medvedev's announcements and his willingness to meet with Khalid Mash'al were criticized to a certain extent in Israel. Israeli Foreign Ministry headed by Avigdor Lieberman even went as far as comparing the meeting of the Russian president with Hamas' chief to a scenario in which an Israeli leader meets with the chief of the Chechen insurgents against whom Russia has been long time waging a bloody war.
The renewed activity of Russia in our region shouldn't come as a surprise or be a source of great concern. Even though it is irritating, there is no reason to take it too much seriously. Primarily, we should bear in mind that Russia is not the USSR. It is not hostile to Israel. Rather, it is acting in order to improve its relations with Israel and even tighten them.
The Russians strive to obtain bargaining chips by which they will be able to conduct tough bargaining with the US, on critical issues from Moscow's point of view, like: deploying American forces or missiles along the Russian border, or issues with regard to the American support for Russia's neighbors as: Georgia, Poland, Ukraine etc. Secondly, since the cash at the Russian treasury is running out, the Russians are looking for markets in order to sell the stockpiles of their superfluous Russian production military equipment.
Russia understands that if it wanted to play a role in advancing a peace process in the region, it would be possible only if it coordinated its policy with Israel. Such coordination doesn't mean that Russia will 100 % agree with Israel nor does it mean developing relations with Hamas as long as this organization ignores Israel's right of existence.