Report: Putin Backs Israel's Security Needs in Middle East

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: Arutz Sheva

Maariv report claims in private meeting Netanyahu and Putin forged security pact for Israel's safety.

A pact was forged between Moscow and Jerusalem to ensure Israel's security during a private meeting last month, according to a Friday Maariv report.

The report claims that a 90-minute conversation took place between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin during Netanyahu's last-minute attempt to prevent an interim nuclear deal between Western powers and Iran.

While Moscow - which has been rumored to be involved in a nuclear arms deal with Tehran - refused to accede to Israel's stance on the nuclear Iran issue, Putin did allegedly promise to ensure Israel's security in the region.

Netanyahu asked Putin "not to push" the demilitarization of the Middle East from all nuclear weapons, according to the report. Israel has faced mounting international pressure to sign the UN's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/175364#.UrRhz5G9XOF

[karynnj]

1. Very weird article - and provably inaccurate

It makes no sense for Russia, which supports Assad to be angry for the US NOT striking Syria! In addition, Russia's side there is to be allied with Assad, Hezzbollah and Iran. They wanted Iran included in Geneva 2.

Note that this source is one of "religious Zionism" and is headquartered in a settlement in the West Bank. It is regarded as the voice of the settlers. This is as right wing as you can get. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arutz_Sheva

The entire message here is in reaction to the Obama/Kerry effort to get peace via a two state solution. These are people who refuse to even use the name "West Bank" -- preferring to say Judae and Samaria - the names from about the time of Jesus! One of the people in Netanyahu's government allied with the settlers actually spoke of saying "Palestinian enclaves in Israel" rather than the West Bank.

Here they are so angry with the US that they are looking to Russia as an ally. Not too realistic - and they have no equivalent of AIPAC to influence Russia.

[Jesus Malverde]

2. Israel and Russia might not be odd buddies.

It's well known Foreign Minister Leiberman was born in Russia. One of the most powerful men in Israel for foreign relations has a personal connection to Russia. Ignoring that for a moment.

The biggest synergy between Israel and Russia is the discovery of the Levant Gas field off the coast of Lebanon and Israel.

Currently Russia is the largest natural gas supplier to Europe. They are able to largely dictate to a captive market and have used their natural gas as a political tool. The recent deal with Ukraine as an example. With the discovery of the Levant field Russia no longer has a captive market as Europe will be able to buy natural gas from Israel.

To get the Israeli gas to market a pipeline would go through Cyprus which is in the Russian sphere.

Money is the glue that will bring these two powers together. As a cartel they will both benefit from Europe rather than competing against each other. Initially Israel will need cooperation from Russia to get the gas through Cyprus. After that they will both have the same customers. Assad's arms sales are meaningless when were talking petrodollars petroEuro's. The Russian base at tartus maybe does become more important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartus

The whole situation is weird and definitely not what we normally expect. Coupled with the China love fest these are interesting developments. Playing the middle between great powers could be a dangerous game.

[okaawhatever]

5. Cooperation between Israel and Russia on the gas would be considered price-fixing. Israel has been

sucking up to Russia but it doesn't mean anything. Netanyahu and Lieberman lost 25% of their seats in the Knisset this year, they don't have the support of the Israeli people they act like they do. I think this is a case of Putin keeping his friends close and his enemies closer.

[R Merm]

3. Arutz Sheva might be right wing,

But they are crediting the report to Maariv which is more center and critical of Bibi's govement.

[okaawhatever]

4. That report is more Netanyahu propoganda. From further down in the story:

The report contradicts evidence indicating that Russia is involved in arming some of Israel's most formidable threats, including Iran, Syria, and Egypt. Russia was reportedly among the most vocal supporters of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and came out against Israel's rumored possession of nuclear weapons earlier this year.

Before last month's meeting, an expert from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem dismissed claims that Israel has been playing off tensions between Russia and the US.

"I very much hope that (Netanyahu) will not try such an exercise," Amnon Sela, professor emeritus of international relations, told AFP. "I think he has already taken some steps which are very harmful to Israel, with his opposition to President (Barack) Obama and trying to enlist (US) public opinion and Congress against the president, and in particular the American Jewish community which immediately raises the question of dual loyalties."

Even if Russia would like to fill the gap, it lacks the resources, he said.

"It is not capable of playing any role beyond that which it already has, in Iran, Syria and (Lebanese terrorist group) Hezbollah."

"It has no possibility; not economically, nor diplomatically," he said, adding that "it could act only together with the United States."