Alexei Vlasov. Exclusively to VK
The visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Israel acquired a sensational character long before it started. The Russian and Israeli mass media don’t stop reminding us that Dmitry Medvedev didn’t visit the land of the Covenant, while Putin had been in Israel officially seven years ago. Since that time the geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically. The previous stereotypes of relations – Moscow-Tel Aviv-the Arab world – are being destroyed right in front of our eyes.
That is why it is no surprise that the necessity of defining a new agenda is considered by the Russian leader and his Israeli colleagues as a “realized need.” Considering the fact that Barack Obama hasn’t visited Israel since his coming into office, the advantages and benefits for Putin, even if no serious results are to be achieved, are obvious. If Washington appears to say nothing to its devoted ally in the Middle East, the new old “host of the Kremlin” will probably find the right words.
The local analysts define the key question of the bilateral agenda as “Is Russia ready for active policy in the Middle East and can Israel see a reliable partner in it?” Optimists give positive answers to these questions. However, we shouldn’t be quick with conclusions. In the current situation when the systemic chaotization of the international affairs take place, Putin will hardly put all his eggs in one basket, i.e. demonstrate “friendship forever” with Israel. Nevertheless, it is not demanded.
A big deal always started from small successes. In Russian-Israeli relations there are a lot of “missed opportunities” from education to information cooperation, and even small steps toward each other create a new quality of relations without any curtseys on the Iranian or Palestine problems.
Unveiling of the Victory Memorial of the Red Army over fascist Germany in the Israeli city of Netanya is one of such symbolic steps. At the opening ceremony Putin called the Holocaust one of the most shameful pages in the history of humanity and urged us to struggle against fascist tendencies. According to him, the new memorial helps to fight what he called “efforts to falsify history and equal slaughterers and victims.”
This monument stimulates stability of cooperation between Israel and Russia, first of all.
As for differences in views, they are discussed sincerely and honestly. A few days ago during the video-bridge Moscow-Jerusalem “Russia and Israel: the current agenda” the minister of information and diaspora of Israel, Yuli Edelstein, noted that approaches of two countries especially differ on the Iranian and Syrian issues and the Israeli Foreign Ministry hardly expects breakthrough in these spheres.
It is right, but during Putin’s visit the other important result can be achieved – reaching a new level of trust. It is possible even now.
