Russia and the Arab-Israeli conflict
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Quartet on the Middle East, Russia plays an important role with respect to the Arab-Israeli conflict. For related developments prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, see article Soviet Union and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Russia's return to the Middle East
After 2001, the government of Vladimir Putin intensified Russia's involvement in the region, supporting Iran in its nuclear ambitions and forgiving Syria 73% of its $13 billion debt.[Russia, Syria sign agreement for major arms deal] (World Tribune) January 26, 2005
In his September 10, 2004 article Middle East Horizons of Russian Foreign Politics. Russia returns to one of the world's key regions, Mikhail Margelov, the Head of the Foreign Relations Council of the Russian Federation, wrote:
"President Putin called for the renewal of contacts with the countries with which Russia maintained long friendly relations and invested a lot of material and intellectual resources. The Arab countries constitute a large part of those counties. ... In general, the positions of Russia and the majority of Arab countries on key issues of development of the political situation in the region coincide."() [Middle East Horizons of Russian Politics. Russia returns to one of the World's Key Regions] by Mikhail Margelov, The president of the Committee for International Affairs of the Russian Federation
Russian-Hamas talks, 2006
The Russia-Hamas talks of 2006 began on March 3, 2006, when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to discuss the future of the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after Hamas became the majority party of the Palestinian National Authority Legislative Council, having won a majority of seats in the Palestinian elections. The group is listed as a terrorist organization by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Israel, and the United States, and is banned in Jordan.
On February 10, 2006, the president of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, stated that Russia does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and officially invited them to Moscow, a move that confounded many politicians and analysts worldwide, including comparisons with Russian involvement in Chechnya whose militants such as Shamil Basayev Putin considers "terrorists".[The President Tells Shamil Basaev from Hamas] (Kommersant)
The perspective of giving legitimacy to Hamas have angered some Israeli officials.[Putin: Hamas not a terror organization] (Ynetnews) A cabinet minister Meir Sheetrit accused Putin of "stabbing Israel in the back". After the interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert communicated with Putin, the Israeli position somewhat softened.[Israel softens Russia criticism over Hamas talks] (Washingtonpost)
In an interview in Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta published on February 13, 2006, Mashal said that Hamas would temporarily stop armed struggle against Israel if it recognized the "1967 borders" and withdrew itself from all "Palestinian territories" (including the West Bank and East Jerusalem). He refused to acknowledge the Road map for peace, adopted by the Quartet in June 2003, "since nobody respects it". The Road map projected the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in 2005.
Following Hamas' victory in January 2006, the EU announced that future aid to the Palestinians is tied to "Three Principles" outlined by the international community:
- Hamas must renounce violence
- Hamas must recognize Israel's right to exist
- Hamas must express clear support for the Middle East peace process, as outlined in the Oslo accords.
On March 7, Russia expressed hope that Hamas would consider supporting the Road map for peace and peace plan proposed by Saudi Arabia, but it did not materialize. Israeli spokesman stated: "They (Hamas) did not accept any of those principles ... therefore I don't know where they (Russia) draw their optimism from Hamas changing its ways."[Russia hopeful Hamas will support peace road map] (Reuters) March 7, 2006
President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority said that he would oppose the creation of a Palestinian state with temporary borders and further Israel's unilateral withdrawals.
The invitation and the talks have caused controversy wherein Russia's intentions in changing its views towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were questioned in the West.
References
See also
External links
- [America, Russia, and the Greater Middle East. Challenges and Opportunities] (PDF) by Geoffrey Kemp and Paul Saunders (The Nixon Center) November 2003
- [Russia in the Middle East: is Putin undertaking a new strategy?] by Dr. Robert Freedman (Middle East Institute) February 10, 2005
- [Putin denies Russia destabilising Middle East] by James Rose (The Times Online) April 28, 2005
- [Russia in the Middle East] (U.S. Library of Congress. Country Studies)
- [Past as Prologue. Russia: Moscow presents itself as the new 'middleman' in the Middle East] by Owen Matthews (Newsweek International) February 27, 2006
- [The Bear Is Back. Russia's Middle Eastern adventures] by Ilan Berman (National Review Online) February 18, 2005
- [Russia is Ready for Dialogue With HAMAS] by Michel Elbaz, Sami Rosen, Pavel Simonov. February 3, 2006
- [The Middle East and Russia's New Game] February 15, 2006
- [Moscow urges Hamas to transform] (BBC)
- [Russia-Hamas talks anger Israel] (BBC)
- [Reuters: Russia says Hamas ready to extend ceasefire] (with picture)
- [ABC: Russia sets up Hamas talks]
- () [Stanislav Belkovsky Riddle of Vladimir Putin]
Further reading
Dangerous Drift: Russia's Middle East Policy by Eugene Rumer (The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2000) ISBN 0-944029-44-2
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