(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Noa Shusterman - While 144 countries condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the UN, the Palestinian Authority remained silent. The Palestinians regard the Ukrainian struggle as competing with them for international attention. They are frustrated that their struggle is cast by many as terrorism, while the struggle in Ukraine is treated as a just war for freedom. The Palestinian leadership is careful to avoid damage to their relations with Russia, which they consider an ally. PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who earned his doctorate in Russia, does not want to harm his relations with an actor that is likely to challenge U.S. dominance in the region. Nor has any broad-based popular support among the Palestinians for Ukraine been visible. The Palestinian leadership understands that after the war in Ukraine, international attention and monetary donations will be invested in the rehabilitation of that country, in part at the expense of the Middle East. The writer is Israel-Palestinian Research Program Coordinator at INSS.
2022-03-28 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive