(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Anna Borshchevskaya - Russian President Vladimir Putin has pursued improved ties with Israel since he came into office in March 2000. Russian and Israeli officials maintain multiple open channels of communication. The two countries have an agreement on visa-free tourist travel. Israel is home to over a million immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Putin wants to be seen as a key player throughout the Middle East, and Israel matters in the region. Putin's regional policy, however, is primarily driven by zero-sum anti-Westernism, while Israel is a pro-Western democracy. Moscow's growing aggression in the former Soviet Union, especially in Ukraine, and increasing influence in the Middle East in the context of a Western retreat from the region, complicates Russian-Israeli relations. At the same time, the Western retreat from the Middle East is especially problematic for Israel, as it reduces Israel's options. The writer is a Fellow at The Washington Institute.
2016-04-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive