WSJ: “Putin is one of the few world leaders who has not called Netanyahu to express condolences over the deaths of more than 1,300 Israelis killed by Hamas.”
The attack on Israel ended the relationship between Netanyahu and Putin, writes Wall Street Journal. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to maintain “warm communication” with Russian President Vladimir Putin even at a time when he was increasingly isolated.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the warming of its relations with Iran, Israel’s arch-rival, as the newspaper notes, could not undermine this cooperation. The two leaders stayed in touch by phone, and Netanyahu announced a non-aligned approach to the war in Ukraine, refusing to provide lethal aid or air defense systems to Kyiv despite Western pressure. WSJ states:
Now, following the deadly attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas militants, those conversations appear to have ceased. Putin is one of the few world leaders who has not called Netanyahu to express condolences over the deaths of more than 1,300 Israelis killed by Hamas in the attack. “.
The publication also notes that the end of the agreement between Russia and Israel highlights the broader tectonic shifts taking place in Russia’s role in the Middle East since Putin began the war in Ukraine.
In exchange for the Shaheds, Russia provided Iran with Yak-130 trainer aircraft and is considering the possibility of selling Su-35 fighter jets to Iran, which could change the balance of air power in the Middle East.
Journalists explain that Russia has its own internal reasons to welcome the war as far as possible from Russian borders. On the eve of Russian presidential elections scheduled for March, Putin is looking for a way to distract himself from the war in Ukraine.
On October 14, Hamas said it welcomed Russia’s “tireless efforts to stop Israeli aggression” against the militants. About it writes the publication Vesti Israel, citing a statement by the ruling movement in Gaza obtained by CNN. “We (Hamas) highly appreciate the position of the Russian president regarding the ongoing Zionist aggression against our people and his opposition to the blockade of Gaza, the cessation of aid supplies to it and attacks on civilians there,” the statement states. It is also added that Hamas regards the Kremlin’s actions as “the salvation of the Palestinian people.”
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