By Abdel Bari Atwan
Reports that the Russian government ordered the Jewish Agency to cease operations throughout the country, for the first time in thirty years, come as no surprise given the rising tensions in Israeli-Russian relations.
The move indicates that President Vladimir Putin has reached the end of his tether and run out of patience with the Israeli policy of playing all sides at once in the Ukraine crisis.
This is not a matter of rumour-mongering, speculation, or even wishful thinking. It is the start of a fundamental shift in Russian policy, alluded to by Immigration Minister Pnina Tamano and reported by several Israeli newspapers including The Jerusalem Post, which said the decision could ‘undermine the ability of Russian Jews to emigrate to Israel.’
It comes against the backdrop of three major developments:
First: Yair Lapid took over as Israel’s prime minister, succeeding Naftali Bennett. As foreign minister, Lapid condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine from day one and demanded the government stand by the US, join Western sanctions against Moscow, and most importantly, provide Ukraine with weapons, especially Iron Dome batteries and drones.
Second: Hundreds of Israeli military reservists and intelligence operatives have ‘volunteered’ to fight as mercenaries in Ukrainian militias, under President Volodymyr Zelensky — who says he wants to turn Ukraine into a ‘second Israel’.
Third: Israel’s escalating attacks on Syria, especially its June 20 bombardment of Damascus International Airport which closed it down for two weeks. This prompted an embarrassed Putin to instruct his foreign ministry to present a strongly worded draft resolution to the UN Security Council in protest.
The capture by Russian forces of Israeli mercenaries fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in the Donbass region may have been a game-changer. It exposed Israel’s duplicity and covert role in transferring or facilitating the transfer of weapons systems, drones, and military and intelligence personnel to the country
Much of the Israeli media have been relentlessly demonising Russia and Putin, likening him to Hitler and Nero, and accusing him — with no hint of irony — of committing war crimes which must not go unpunished.
We cannot tell how far this conflict will develop. But it wouldn’t be surprising if it escalates ahead of US President Joe Biden’s Middle East tour which begins in occupied Jerusalem on July 13. Israel is asking him to tighten the noose on Iran and form an Israeli-led Arab NATO to prepare to attack it. He might demand in return that his Israeli hosts take a clearer stance and side with the US and the West on Ukraine.
Israel’s policy of playing both sides while feigning neutrality is becoming unsustainable. By suspending the Jewish Agency’s operations in Russia, Putin has shown it and its double standards a red card. Worse may be yet to come.
SOURCE: https://www.raialyoum.com/russias-red-card-to-israel/
