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{{Short description|Foreign policy}}'''Russia and the Iran–Israel proxy conflict''' deals with [[Foreign relations of Russia|Russian foreign policy]] in the Middle East during the early 2000s, in light of the [[Iran–Israel proxy conflict]].

{{Infobox bilateral relations|Iran–Russia|Iran|Russia}}{{Infobox bilateral relations|Israel–Russia|Israel|Russia|filetype=svg}}

==Background==
{{See also|Soviet Union and the Arab–Israeli conflict}}
After 2001 the government of [[Vladimir Putin]] intensified Russia's involvement in the region, supporting [[Iran]]'s nuclear programs and forgiving [[Syria]] 73% of its $13 billion debt.<ref>[http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2005/eu_russia_01_26.html Russia, Syria sign agreement for major arms deal] ''World Tribune'', January 26, 2005</ref>

In his September 10, 2004 article ''Middle East Horizons of Russian Foreign Politics: Russia returns to one of the world's key regions'', [[Mikhail Margelov]], the Head of the Foreign Relations Council of the Russian Federation, wrote:

<blockquote>President Putin called for the renewal of contacts with the countries with which Russia maintained long friendly relations and invested a lot of material and intellectual resources. The Arab countries constitute a large part of those counties. ... In general, the positions of Russia and the majority of Arab countries on key issues of development of the political situation in the region coincide."<ref>{{in lang|ru}} [http://arabeski.globalrus.ru/opinions/132943/ Middle East Horizons of Russian Politics: Russia returns to one of the World's Key Regions] by Mikhail Margelov, The president of the Committee for International Affairs of the Russian Federation</ref></blockquote>

According to March 2007 brief entitled ''Russia's New Middle Eastern Policy: Back to Bismarck?'' by Ariel Cohen (Institute for Contemporary Affairs),

{{quote|Syria ... was supplying Hizbullah with Russian weapons. In 2006, Israeli forces found evidence of the Russian-made Kornet-E and Metis-M anti-tank systems in Hizbullah's possession in southern Lebanon. The Russian response to accusations that it was supplying terrorist groups with weapons was an announcement, in February 2007, that Russia's military will conduct inspections of Syrian weapons storage facilities with the goal of preventing the weapons from reaching unintended customers. Predictably, such developments placed considerable strain on the already-deteriorating relations between Russia and Israel...

For several years Russia has been attempting to engage in military cooperation with both Israel and Syria. However, the levels of cooperation with the two states are inversely related and an escalation of arms sales to Syria can only damage the relationship with Israel. Russian-Syrian military cooperation has gone through numerous stages: high levels of cooperation during the Soviet era, which was virtually halted until 2005, and now Russia's attempt to balance its relationship with both Israel and Syria. However, Russia's recent eastward leanings might indicate that Moscow is prepared to enter a new stage in its military cooperation with Syria, even if this is to the detriment of its relationship with Israel.<ref>[http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DRIT=1&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=380&PID=0&IID=1540&TTL=Russia%E2%80%99s_New_Middle_Eastern_Policy:_Back_to_Bismarck? Russia's New Middle Eastern Policy: Back to Bismarck?] by Ariel Cohen. Jerusalem Issue Brief. Institute for Contemporary Affairs. Vol. 6, No. 25. March 20, 2007</ref>}}

==Timeline==

===Russia–Hamas talks, 2006===
The Russia–Hamas talks of 2006 began on 3 March 2006, when [[Russia]]n [[Foreign Minister]] [[Sergei Lavrov]] met with [[Hamas]] leader [[Khaled Meshaal]] to discuss the future of the [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]] after Hamas became the majority party of the [[Palestinian National Authority]] Legislative Council, having won a majority of seats in the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election|Palestinian elections]]. Hamas is listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by [[Australia]],<ref>[http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/www/nationalsecurity.nsf/AllDocs/95FB057CA3DECF30CA256FAB001F7FBD?OpenDocument Listing of Terrorist Organisations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204040731/http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/www/nationalsecurity.nsf/AllDocs/95FB057CA3DECF30CA256FAB001F7FBD?OpenDocument |date=4 February 2014 }}, Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, 27 January 2006. Accessed 31 July 2006.</ref> [[Canada]],<ref>[http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#hhi18 Keeping Canadians Safe] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119150657/http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp |date=19 November 2006 }}, Public Security and Emergency Preparedness Canada, National Security, Listed entities. Accessed 31 July 2006.</ref><ref>"Hamas is listed as a terrorist group in the Criminal Code of Canada." Tibbetts, Janice. [http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=3c639723-98b1-4db5-89c2-2a08a0233763&k=11673 Canada shuts out Hamas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930020625/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=3c639723-98b1-4db5-89c2-2a08a0233763&k=11673 |date=2015-09-30 }},''[[The Montreal Gazette]]'', 30 March 2006.</ref> the [[European Union]],<ref name="EUTerrorList">[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_340/l_34020051223en00640066.pdf "Council Decision"] [[Council of the European Union]], 21 December 2005</ref> [[Israel]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/7/The%20Financial%20Sources%20of%20the%20Hamas%20Terror%20Organiza|title=The Financial Sources of the Hamas Terror Organization|access-date=18 May 2016}}</ref> [[Japan]],<ref>[http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/2005/ch3-a.pdf Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook 2005] states that it has frozen the assets of "terrorist organizations, including... Hamas."</ref> the [[United Kingdom]],<ref name="UKTerrorList">[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/proscribed-groups "UK Home Office"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630031633/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/proscribed-groups |date=30 June 2006 }}</ref> and the [[United States]],<ref name=SD1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050506203604/http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/45394.htm "Country reports on terrorism"], U.S. State Dept., 27 April 2005.</ref> and is banned in [[Jordan]].<ref name="Star1">Karmi, Omar. [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=22307# "What does the Hamas victory mean for nearby Jordan?"], ''The Daily Star'', 18 February 2006</ref>

On 10 February 2006 Spanish parliament member told Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]], according to ''[[Kommersant]]'' journalist [[Andrey Kolesnikov (journalist born 1966)|Andrey Kolesnikov]], that Putin does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.<ref>[http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=648482 The President Tells Shamil Basaev from Hamas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060424/http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=648482 |date=23 September 2015 }} ''Kommersant''</ref>

The perspective of giving legitimacy to Hamas have angered some Israeli officials.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3213707,00.html Putin: Hamas not a terror organization] (Ynetnews)</ref> A [[cabinet minister]] [[Meir Sheetrit]] accused Putin of "stabbing Israel in the back". After the interim Israeli Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]] communicated with Putin, the Israeli position somewhat softened.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/28/AR2006022800522.html Israel softens Russia criticism over Hamas talks]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''Washington Post'', 28 February 2006.</ref>

In an interview in Russian newspaper ''[[Nezavisimaya Gazeta]]'' published on 13 February 2006, Mashal said that Hamas would temporarily stop armed struggle against Israel if it recognized the "[[1949 Armistice Agreements|1967 borders]]" and withdrew itself from all "[[Palestinian territories]]" (including the [[West Bank]] and [[East Jerusalem]]). He refused to acknowledge the [[Road map for peace]], adopted by the [[Quartet on the Middle East|Quartet]] in June 2003, "since nobody respects it". The Road map projected the [[Proposals for a Palestinian state|establishment of an independent Palestinian state]] in 2005.

Following Hamas' victory in January 2006, the EU announced that future aid to the Palestinians is tied to "Three Principles" outlined by the international community:
*Hamas must renounce violence
*Hamas must recognize Israel's [[right to exist]]
*Hamas must express clear support for the Middle East peace process, as outlined in the [[Oslo accords]].

During the talks in March 2006, Lavrov called on the Hamas to comply with the earlier commitments signed by the [[PLO]], and reiterated these three requirements but Hamas refused.<ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=22780 land-for-peace arab proposal] ''Daily Star''</ref>

On 7 March, Russia expressed hope that Hamas would consider supporting the [[Road map for peace]] and [[Arab Peace Initiative|peace plan proposed by Saudi Arabia]], but it did not materialize. Israeli spokesman stated: "They (Hamas) did not accept any of those principles ... therefore I don't know where they (Russia) draw their optimism from Hamas changing its ways."<ref>[http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/418724/russia_hopeful_hamas_will_support_peace_road_map/ Russia hopeful Hamas will support peace road map] (Reuters) 7 March 2006</ref>

President Mahmoud Abbas of the [[Palestinian National Authority]] said that he would oppose the creation of a Palestinian state with temporary borders and further [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan|Israel's unilateral withdrawals]].

The invitation and the talks have caused controversy wherein Russia's intentions in changing its views towards the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] were questioned in the West.

===Russian technical, military, and diplomatic aid to Iran===
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2009}}
Currently, there are concerns that Israel will attack Iran pre-emptively because the [[nuclear program of Iran]] could be used eventually to produce nuclear weapons.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070109072939/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16509109/ Israel denies planning Iran nuclear attack, U.K. newspaper reports Israel intends to strike up to three targets in Iran], The Associated Press, 7 January 2007</ref><ref>Tom Baldwin, James Hider, Francis Elliott, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2827787.ece US fears Israeli strike against Iran over latest nuclear claim], ''[[The Times]]'', 8 November 2007.</ref> Russia provides technical assistance to Iran's nuclear program, supplies it with weapons, and gives it diplomatic support at the [[United Nations]].<ref>Herb Keinon, [http://www.jpost.com/International/Jlem-sees-Russian-interests-behind-arms-sales-to-Damascus "Jerusalem sees Russian interests behind arms sales to Damascus], ''The Jerusalem Post'', 20 August 2007</ref>

In January 2007, Israeli officials voiced "extreme concern" over Russia's sale of advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. They warned: "We hope they understand that this is a threat that could come back to them as well."<ref>Yaakov Katz and Herb Keinon, [http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Israel-warns-Russia-on-Iran-arms-sale-48333 Israel warns Russia on Iran arms sale], ''Jerusalem Post'', 16 January 2007</ref>

Before Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]]'s trip to Russia, Israel's Cabinet voted to recognize Russia's claim to [[Sergei's Courtyard]] in central Jerusalem. Russia laid claim to the site, named for the son of a Russian czar, on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church. In an overture before the trip, Israel's Cabinet voted to recognize Russia's claim to property in Jerusalem. Russia laid claim to the site, named for the son of a Russian czar, on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church. Olmert said he would urge Moscow not to sell sophisticated weapons to Israel's enemies. Iran is interested in buying anti-aircraft missiles that could cripple any military strike against its nuclear program. Israel is also afraid Moscow would sell Syria the same missile defense system. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has frequently called for Israel's destruction, and Israel suspects he means to carry out that objective by developing nuclear bombs with the help of a Russian-built nuclear power plant. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Iran says it plans to buy from Russia advanced [[S-300 missile system|S-300]] anti-aircraft missiles that could detect aircraft sent to destroy its nuclear facilities. Syria, which backs Hezbollah guerrillas who battled Israel in Lebanon in 2006, reportedly has asked to buy them, too. Russia has not confirmed the reports. But recently, Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said his government was prepared to sell Syria arms with a "defensive character." Israel claims Russian missiles sold to Syria made their way into the Hezbollah's hands in the 2006 war, though it has not accused Russia of directly arming the guerrilla group. After four decades of Cold War animosity, ties between Moscow and Israel improved significantly after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. Israel is also home to more than 1 million Soviet emigres.

But Moscow's position on Iran and arms sales to Syria have seemingly strained ties, as did Israeli weapons sales to Georgia.
In reality, while Russia attacked Georgia in August 2008, Russians had access to the communication secrets of the Israeli drones sold to Georgia before, suggesting pre-planned military cooperation between IL-RU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.ria.ru/world/20120229/171614647.html|title=Israel Helped Russia Hack Georgian Drones – Wikileaks|date=29 February 2012|publisher=RIA|access-date=18 May 2016}}</ref>

===Contacts with Hezbollah===
Russian intelligence agencies have a history of contacts with Lebanese Shia organizations, such as [[Amal Movement]] and [[Hezbollah]]<ref name="axis1">{{cite web|url=http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah1.htm|title=Dangerous liaisons: covert "love affair" between Russia and Hezbollah, part 1|website=axisglobe.com|access-date=9 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923085429/http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah1.htm|archive-date=23 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="axis2">{{cite web|url=http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah2.htm|title=Dangerous liaisons: covert "love affair" between Russia and Hezbollah, part 2|website=axisglobe.com|access-date=9 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923085440/http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah2.htm|archive-date=23 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="axis3">{{cite web|url=http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah3.htm|title=Dangerous liaisons: covert "love affair" between Russia and Hezbollah, part 3|website=axisglobe.com|access-date=9 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923085529/http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah3.htm|archive-date=23 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="axis4">{{cite web|url=http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah4.htm|title=Dangerous liaisons: covert "love affair" between Russia and Hezbollah, part 4|website=axisglobe.com|access-date=9 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923085518/http://www.axisglobe.com/hezbollah4.htm|archive-date=23 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Russian-made anti-tank weapons played significant role in Hezbollah operations against [[Israel Defense Forces]] during the [[2006 Lebanon War]]. It was claimed that "Iranian Fajr-1 and [[Fajr-3]] rockets, Russian [[9M113 Konkurs]] antitank missiles and [[9M133 Kornet|Kornet antitank rockets]]"<ref name=Pacep2>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjUzMGU4NTMyOTdkOTdmNTA1MWJlYjYyZDliODZkOGM= Russian Footprints] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213222243/http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjUzMGU4NTMyOTdkOTdmNTA1MWJlYjYyZDliODZkOGM= |date=2007-02-13 }} – by [[Ion Mihai Pacepa]], ''National Review Online'', 24 August 2006</ref> have been supplied to Hezbollah through [[Syria]] and [[Iran]]<ref name="LAT83106">{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/aug/31/world/fg-hezbollah31 |title=Israel Says Syria, Not Just Iran, Supplied Missiles to Hezbollah |access-date=31 August 2006 |last=Spiegel |first=Peter |author2=Laura King |date= 31 August 2006 |id= World News |work= [[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Muslim [[GRU]] detachments from [[Chechnya]] were transferred to [[Lebanon]] independently of the [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon]] to guard the Russian military engineers (sent to Lebanon to restore the damaged roads) and "to improve Moscow's image in the Arab and Muslim world".<ref name="debka4">{{cite web |url= http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=3354 |title=Moscow posts two Chechen platoons in S. Lebanon, one headed by an ex-rebel commander, "to improve Russia's image in the Arab world" |access-date= 18 May 2016}}</ref>

==List of international terror groups assembled by Russia==
Russian list of international terrorism published in the official daily ''[[Rossiyskaya Gazeta]]'' on 28 July 2006 contained seventeen terror groups. It included [[al-Qaeda]], [[Taliban]], [[Lashkar-e-Tayyaba]] and Egypt's banned [[Muslim Brotherhood]], as well as groups linked to separatist militants in [[Chechnya]] and Islamic radicals in Central Asia but omitted both Hamas and [[Hezbollah]]. [[Yury Sapunov]], the top official of Russian Federal Security Service in charge of fighting international terrorism, said that the list "Includes only those organizations which represent the greatest threat to the security of our country."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3282840,00.html|title=Hamas, Hizbullah not on Russia's terror list|work=Ynet|date=28 July 2006|access-date=18 May 2016}}</ref>

==Russian military and diplomatic relations with Israel==
{{main|Israel–Russia relations}}
Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] met with leaders of both [[Israel]] and the [[Palestinian National Authority]] during a visit to the region in June 2012.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Marcus |date=25 June 2012 |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18574738 |title=President Putin's Middle East gambit}}</ref> During the visit, one prominent Israeli host was the country's foreign minister [[Avigdor Lieberman]], known for his popularity amongst the large community of Russian-Israelis<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/06/26/putins_whirlwind_middle_east_tour |title=Putin's whirlwind Middle East tour |work=Foreign Policy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Harriet |last=Sherwood |date=17 August 2011 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/17/israel-soviet-immigrants-transform-country |title=Israel's former Soviet immigrants transform adopted country}}</ref> Arab commentators were also quick to point out how this visit, which carried with it indications of closer Russian-Israeli cooperation in energy and military technology, could usher in a break in a perceived, long-standing Arab-Russian alliance.<ref>{{cite web |author=Policy Analysis Unit |url=http://english.dohainstitute.org/release/ca69e135-b737-40ce-b72c-58e0ff50787a |title=Russian-Israeli Cooperation: Putin Pays Netanyahu a Visit |date=24 July 2012 |publisher=[[Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies]]}}</ref>

Russia recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vladimirov|first=Nikita|date=2017-04-06|title=Russia recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/327673-russia-recognizes-jerusalem-as-israeli-capital|access-date=2021-07-04|website=TheHill|language=en}}</ref> According to an ''Al Jazeera'' report, Moscow's approach to the Israel-Palestinian dispute is to support both opposing sides simultaneously.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Support Opposing Sides Simultaneously: Russia's Approach to the Gulf and the Middle East|url=http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/reports/2018/08/support-opposing-sides-simultaneously-russias-approach-gulf-middle-east-180823104054250.html|access-date=2021-07-04|website=Al Jazeera Center for Studies|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Iran–Russia relations]]
* [[Ivan Safronov]]
* [[Israel–Russia relations]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110108032103/http://www.nixoncenter.org/publications/monographs/US_Russia_ME.pdf America, Russia, and the Greater Middle East. Challenges and Opportunities] (PDF) by Geoffrey Kemp and Paul Saunders (The Nixon Center) November 2003
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928035408/http://www.mideasti.org/articles/doc348.html Russia in the Middle East: is Putin undertaking a new strategy?] by Dr. Robert Freedman (Middle East Institute) February 10, 2005
*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1589600,00.html Putin denies Russia destabilising Middle East] by James Rose (The Times Online) April 28, 2005
*[http://countrystudies.us/russia/88.htm Russia in the Middle East] (U.S. Library of Congress. Country Studies)
*[http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/berman200502180741.asp The Bear Is Back. Russia's Middle Eastern adventures] by [[Ilan Berman]] ([[National Review Online]]) February 18, 2005
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060522/http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=642 Russia is Ready for Dialogue With HAMAS] by Michel Elbaz, Sami Rosen, Pavel Simonov. February 3, 2006
*[http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=28507 The Middle East and Russia's New Game] February 15, 2006
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4769112.stm Moscow urges Hamas to transform] ([[BBC]])
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4701312.stm Russia-Hamas talks anger Israel] (BBC)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070922102302/http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews Reuters: Russia says Hamas ready to extend ceasefire] (with picture)
*[http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1583774.htm ABC: Russia sets up Hamas talks]
*{{in lang|ru}} [http://old.lenta.ru/articles/2006/03/06/riddle/_Printed.htm Stanislav Belkovsky ''Riddle of Vladimir Putin'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060452/http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=995 Russia Might Get Involved in the Middle East Conflict]

==Further reading==
*''Dangerous Drift: Russia's Middle East Policy'' by Eugene Rumer (The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2000) {{ISBN|0-944029-44-2}}

{{Iran–Israel proxy conflict}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russia And The Iran-Israel proxy conflict}}
[[Category:Iran–Israel proxy conflict]]
[[Category:Hamas]]
[[Category:Hezbollah]]
[[Category:Israel–Russia relations]]
[[Category:Iran–Russia relations]]
[[Category:Multilateral relations of Russia]]

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