A New Phase of Russian-Israeli Relations after October 7 and Amid the War in the Gaza Strip

Abstract

After the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Russia adopted a critical stance toward Israel, marking a new phase in Russian-Israeli relations. Neither Putin's personal sympathies toward Israel, which shaped the relationship in the 2000s, nor Israel's neutrality in Russia’s war in Ukraine, which ran counter to the efforts of Western allies, could prevent the rupture. Russia subsumed the war in the Middle East under its overarching foreign policy logic that holds the West - and in particular the US - responsible for all current conflicts. In response, Israel sharpened its tone toward Russia. However, few changes in actual policy can be observed.