The Russians may just have handed the United States a major card with regards to proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians. What makes me say this... well, I have long felt that the Right Wing in Israel has been trying to move Israel away from the U.S. and their Human Rights demands on Israel and try to bring them closer to the Russians who in the opinion of this diarist have let's just say - a slightly lesser concern with human rights. The Israeli Right seems to think that since the Russians have a problem in Chechnya with Islamic rebels and have experienced terror related to that, that they would ally or at least not get in the way of the Rights push to marginalize everyone who is not a rightwing Jew in Israel.
Because of this it is my opinion that Rightist MK's and spokespeople seem to be going out of there way to scuttle the U.S. sponsored "Proximity Talks" and deal the U.S. a "black eye" in the region.
But.... Alas this strategy seems to have failed. Haaretz is reporting today that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev just met with Hamas' leader Khalid Meshaal:
Russia, the United States, European Union and the United Nations, make up a quartet of Middle East mediators. The U.S., EU and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist group. Russia insists that Hamas should not be isolated.
"Hamas...is a movement supported by the trust and sympathy of a significant part of Palestinians," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said in a statement. "We have regular contacts with this movement."
"It is known that all other participants of the Middle East quartet are also in some sort of contact with Hamas leadership, although for some unknown reason they are shy to publicly admit it," Nesterenko said.
http://www.haaretz.com/...
To which the Israeli Foreign Ministry replied:
Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it expected Russia to stand by Israel in its struggle against Hamas.
"Hamas is a terror organization whose declared goal is the destruction of the state of Israel," the statement read. "Hamas is responsible for the murder of hundreds of innocent civilians, among them immigrants from the Soviet Union and also Russian citizens."
The statement continued, "Israel has always stood by Russia in its struggle against the Chechnyan terrorism. We expect the same attitude when we are talking about the Hamas terrorism against Israel."
http://www.cnn.com/...
Really, all one can say is "Sorry Avi...." Did you really count on playing the Russia card? Really?
Meanwhile President Obama has taken yet another step to help Israeli Security while at the same time trying harder to make Peace a reality. The U.S. today committed to supporting the "Iron Dome" defense system.
The budgetary difficulty that has been delaying Israel's armament with the anti-missile defense system Iron Dome has apparently been resolved. The Pentagon has issued a message to Israel's Defense Ministry that U.S. President Barack Obama has approved the transfer of special assistance totaling $205 million (just under NIS 800 million) for the purchase of more than ten Iron Dome batteries.
http://www.haaretz.com/...
How does this help Israel make Peace and help the United States... Well for one - if this system works against short range missles and rockets the protection for U.S. military forces goes up. It helps us save more lives particularly in Europe should U.S. / NATO forces there face a strike from nations within proximity.
Secondly, If Iron Dome is up and running it gives Israel an ability to defend itself that DOES NOT depend on territorial Occupation. It makes it much easier for Israel to defend itself and civilian centers for the Katushaya and Qassam Rockets that threaten both the North and the South.
By doing this the U.S. backs up it's committments to Israeli security, shows Israel that we truly are their friends (although that has never been in doubt - at least not for many years), shows Israel regarding President Obama's friendship and wipes out a key "cover" argument of the Right Wing regarding their claims that the Occupation is all about existential security threats.
Also, yesterday in light of Right Wing attempts to destroy Peace Talks The U.S. government issued this statement:
the United States warned Israel and the Palestinians of taking inciting steps in Jerusalem.
"As we have said, if either side takes significant actions during the proximity talks that we judge would seriously undermine trust, we will respond to hold them accountable and ensure that negotiations continue."
http://www.haaretz.com/...
Like with a drunk driver, The U.S. is acting as the friend who takes the keys. President Obama has shown Jewish people time and time again that he is our friend and a friend to the Israeli people. Why the Israeli Right Wing wants to make friends with a country that has not supported it for 60 years is beyond me. They have a great friend in the U.S. Hopefully this missed opportunity by the Russians turns into political gain for the U.S., mutual trust, and Peace in the region.