Day: November 16, 2023

Israel should not harm it’s relations with Russia, due to the long story of cooperation and Moscow’s role in the Middle East

Amid all the tensions on the international arena and difficulties, that both Russia and Israel are facing in their relations today, Moscow’s still playing a major role in the Middle East. So Israel should balance and keep good relations with both the U.S. (as essential partners) and Russia (which has a certain level of influence on Syria and Iran).

Israel “Relik” Shafir, brigadier general (in reserve), was one of the eight pilots selected to fly the mission to bomb the Osirak nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981. He spent 31 years as a pilot and commander in the Israeli Air Force, including stints as commander of the Hatzor Air Base Pilot’s School as well as the Tel Nof Airbase.

General Shafir believes Israel is trying to minimize collateral damage, civilian casualties in Gaza, which is extremely difficult due to the tactics of HAMAS. Israel can no longer tolerate when there is a terrorist entity on its border. However, Israel should be very careful and not allow this conflict to include global powers, such as the U.S., Russia and China, since it can lead to a large-scale global conflict.

Since Russia’s playing important important role in the Middle East, Israeli foreign policy should consider this fact and continue dialogue with Moscow.

“There are probably 2 million Russian-speaking people in Israel. We certainly have cultural, humanitarian ties. But there are also the political interests of Israel, an obvious strategic reason: Russia has presence in Syria and is working with Iranians, which makes the game more complicated. We definitely should keep good relations with Russia because it gives us some leverage towards Iran”.

Describing conflict in Ukraine, general Shafir says it has nothing to do with Israel and Israel’s involvement in it does not correspond to its national interests at all.

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“Ukraine is a strange phenomenon, stored between East and West. I don’t want to go into the details of the Ukrainian conflict, but it has nothing to do with us. The fact is that Israel is helping Ukraine with all kinds of humanitarian needs, but selling it ammunition is an involvement in conflict, which we don’t want. With all respect to those who have the opposite view, but its national interest of Israel to keep good relations with Russia, as close as possible and as well as possible. We should understand Russia’s interest and know how and where it can correspond to ours. I am not a supporter of Netanyahu, but he understands it well”.

Israel Shafir believes that the U.S. aim to unify military and financial support for both Israel and Ukraine is nothing but Democrats’ attempt to pass it through the Congress, which is now controlled by Republicans.

“There are many isolationists among Republicans. So this (attempt by the Biden administration) is an internal American matter of how to run the financial and military side in the Congress, which is opposed to the president. On the other hand, there is an obvious conflict between the U.S. and Russia about energy, on who is going to control energy. We’ve seen the way the U.S. is trying to overcome Russia’s pressure on Europe by providing it with gas. So this can be seen from so many angles’.

General Shafir says Israel has no other options but to end threats coming from the HAMAS, and should create mechanisms (including political ones) to prevent such brutal terror in the future.

“Israel was shocked by the HAMAS attack. I am not even sure that the HAMAS itself was expecting it can conduct it, but now we have to crush it. Not only through the Gaza area, but to prevent any of such attacks in the future. Everybody is looking at the way Israel will deal with this terror group, which is seen as a terror group in the countries around us: Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and etc. We are obliged to crush HAMAS”.

How is this war reshaping Israel’s standing on the global stage? This pressing inquiry is what Nick Kolyohin seeks to address as part of his latest endeavor, “The World is Burning.” This captivating series of articles will be featured exclusively here in the Jerusalem Post.

Within each episode, Kolyohin engages in conversations with seasoned experts in the fields of security and international relations, exploring the novel era of warfare that has unfolded following the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It initially took root in Europe, eventually engulfing the Middle East.

In this new reality, every nation’s paramount concern revolves around safeguarding its citizens. Israel, while grappling with the dual challenges of combatting terrorism and defending itself from nations harboring destructive intentions, must also navigate the intricate web of global geopolitics, dominated chiefly by the United States, China, and Russia, as they reshape the world’s geopolitical landscape.

Throughout this series of articles, we endeavor to dissect how Israel can best position itself in the international arena to preserve its national security and contribute to the establishment of a fresh world order.

International journalist Nick Kolyohin (credit: Nick Kolyohin)

How is this war reshaping Israel’s standing on the global stage? This pressing inquiry is what Nick Kolyohin seeks to address as part of his latest endeavor, “The World is Burning.” This captivating series of articles will be featured exclusively here in the Jerusalem Post.

Within each episode, Kolyohin engages in conversations with seasoned experts in the fields of security and international relations, exploring the novel era of warfare that has unfolded following the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It initially took root in Europe, eventually engulfing the Middle East.

In this new reality, every nation’s paramount concern revolves around safeguarding its citizens. Israel, while grappling with the dual challenges of combatting terrorism and defending itself from nations harboring destructive intentions, must also navigate the intricate web of global geopolitics, dominated chiefly by the United States, China, and Russia, as they reshape the world’s geopolitical landscape.

Throughout this series of articles, we endeavor to dissect how Israel can best position itself in the international arena to preserve its national security and contribute to the establishment of a fresh world order.

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This article was written in cooperation with International journalist Nick Kolyohin

A synagogue in Yerevan, Armenia was set on fire on November 15, according to Azerbaijani Ambassador to Germany Nasimi Aghayev who shared footage of the attack.

A synagogue in Yerevan, Armenia, which is the country’s only synagogue, was burned last night. Alarming rise in #antisemitism in Armenia makes its small Jewish community quite vulnerable. According to @ADL study, Armenia is the 2nd most antisemitic country in Europe. pic.twitter.com/mbXQzTXhkQ

— Nasimi Aghayev (@NasimiAghayev) November 15, 2023

The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) claimed responsibility for attacking the synagogue, according to Azerbaijani media. The report continued that ASALA stated their plans to continue attacks against the Jewish community outside of Armenia.

The vandalized World Jewish Center in Yerevan, Armenia. (credit: CER)

A similar attack occurred in October by ASALA, which targeted the World Jewish Center in Yerevan, the Jerusalem Post reported. 

The attackers issued a statement saying: “The Jews are the enemies of the Armenian nation, complicit in Turkish crimes and the regime of [Azerbaijan President Ilhan] Aliyev. The Jewish state provides weapons to Aliyev’s criminal regime, and Jews from America and Europe actively support him. Turkey, Aliyev’s regime, and the Jews are the sworn enemies of the Armenian state and people.”

They added: “If Jewish rabbis in the United States and Europe continue to support Aliyev’s regime, we will continue to burn their synagogues in other countries. Every rabbi will be a target for us. No Israeli Jew will feel safe in these countries.”

After the incident, an Azerbaijani rabbi warned Armenian Jews to “leave before it’s too late”, in anticipation of worsening attacks. 

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Zvika Klein contributed to this report.