GlobalWide News
The Wall Street Journal: The once-cordial relationship between Russia and Israel has strained following a deadly attack by Iranian-backed Hamas militants on Israel. For years, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained a nuanced relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, even as Russia invaded Ukraine and allied itself with Iran. However, Putin has not offered condolences to Israel after the attack, which killed more than 1,300 Israelis.
This distancing is part of a larger shift in Russia’s Middle Eastern policy. Russia has strengthened its ties with Iran, supplying it with military aircraft and considering further arms deals. In return, Iran has provided drone components to Russia. Both countries, now increasingly isolated from the West, appear to be consolidating an anti-Western alliance that extends to Hamas.
The recent conflicts in Israel have shifted global attention away from Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, providing Putin with a diversion ahead of upcoming presidential elections. Russian state media and officials have portrayed the situation as a failure of U.S. foreign policy, accusing the U.S. of focusing on destabilizing Russia rather than fostering peace in the Middle East. Russia has also seized the opportunity to forge stronger ties with Israel’s Arab neighbors, resembling its Cold War stance towards Israel.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.wsj.com/world/hamas-attack-ends-a-delicate-entente-between-russia-and-israel-b5745a20
