Coolness in relations between Israel and Russia, after Moscow has taken a pro-Syrian and pro-Palestinian position at the UN, could lead to a freeze, as an official delegation of Hezbollah, considered to be a terrorist organization not only in the US, but in all Western countries, visited the capital of Russia.
The delegation consisted of the deputy chairman of Hezbollah Sheikh Nasralla As-Sahili Navar, head of information and military education department Hasan Fadlalah and the head of its organizing department Muhammed Raad. The Hezbollah delegation was invited to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where Middle East issues were discussed. The Russian side asked the guests from Beirut to use their links with the terrorist organization Hamas to convince its political administration not to leave Damascus.
Israel considered this visit as further closeness of Russia to pro-Iranian and pro-Syrian forces in the Middle East and support for radical Islamic regimes. Russia is the first country in Europe to welcome a delegation of Hezbollah as official guests. Israel believes that it contradicts Russia’s claims to be a mediator in settling the Middle East conflict.
Meanwhile, Moscow states that Israel had contacts with Hamas during negotiations on exchange of the soldier Galid Shalit for 1027 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Israel should conduct direct negotiations with Hamas, Russia believes.
Israel denies direct contacts with Hamas (any talk about the exchange came from the German and Egyptian mediators) Moreover, the idea of negotiations with organizations that deny its legal existence and commit terrorist attacks on the territory of Israel, is unacceptable to the country.
Petr Lyuksimon, Israel. Exclusively to VK.
