Since the foundation of the state of Israel in 1948, Russia’s relationship with the country has been a complex affair. It has broadly fluctuated between bold support, muted neutrality, and incremental hostility. The recent comments made by Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov at a news conference serves as only the latest chapter in this turbulent story.
At an August 30 news conference, Lavrov vehemently condemned Israel’s policies in the region and openly expressed a level of support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.
Lavrov criticized Israel for being a “occupying power”, accusing it of not having a right to self-defense. He also demanded that Israel “halt its attacks on Gaza”, and commended Hamas for their defense of the Palestinian people against a “brutal” Israeli military.
Russia’s Foreign Minister went on further to accuse the nation of showing “a total disregard for the principles of international law”. He also suggested that terrorist attacks are a “natural self-defense reaction” by those caught in the crossfire between Israelis and Palestinians. His statements represent a clear and open attempt by Russia to dye the region in its own red- and white-tinted tones.
However, this stance is also highly changeable, and Lavrov’s predecessor Yevgeny Primakov served as a case in point. Primakov occupied the position of the Russian foreign minister just before Lavrov and sought to play peacemaker as part of the Oslo Peace Accord. But since then, Russia has veered off its neutral path and become increasingly antagonistic towards Israel.
This has not been an overnight phenomenon, and today Russia’s stance on Israel may be summed up as one of outward support for Hamas while maintaining a degree of neutrality about Israel. Clearly, Russia has its own agenda in the region and appears willing to use its diplomatic clout to try and shape the story in different directions.
What remains to be seen is how the situation will develop in the coming months and years, and what further steps Putin’s government will take to bolster its relationship with Hamas. In any case, it’s certain that the saga of Russia and Israel is far from over, and the implications of Lavrov’s recent statements remain to be seen.