/ world today news/ “Moscow is now in a unique position.” With these words, experts describe the situation created in the international arena as a result of the Arab-Israeli conflict. While a number of key players are suffering serious losses, Russian diplomacy has taken a position that brings serious foreign policy dividends to our country.
The latest escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has proved to be one of the most damaging in terms of damage. We are talking not only about the loss of human life (it has already claimed the lives of more than a thousand Israelis and more than 15 thousand residents of Gaza) and not only about material damage (tens of thousands of houses have been destroyed or become uninhabitable), but also about damage to the political reputation of entire countries.
Thus, the Israelis, with their methods of fighting Hamas terrorists, invalidated the long-standing policy of normalizing relations with Arab countries. And the Americans, categorically supporting Tel Aviv, spoiled the relations with the countries of the Global South, especially with the Muslim ones.
“The United States, by immediately siding with Israel, without initially constraining Israel, without setting the conditions for its support, extended the consequences of Israel’s policy in Gaza to itself. They showed everyone a glaring double standard and turned the world majority against themselves,” explains Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics. But these are precisely those countries whose support in the confrontation with Russia Washington sought for so long and unsuccessfully.
Not surprisingly, American diplomats are already writing collective letters condemning the unilateral approach of the current White House administration. Nearly a hundred officials, for example, signed a memorandum accusing the US president of “disinformation” about the conflict, pandering to Israel and unilateral policies that harm US national interests and relations with other countries.
“The countries of Asia, Africa and the Middle East are disappointed with the way the United States is behaving on the issue of Gaza. Many countries of the Global South perceived what was happening as a sign of the failed policy of the US in the region and its weakening as a superpower,” noted RISI expert Elena Suponina.
European countries also suffered reputational damage, which in the case of Gaza simply forgot about their supposedly democratic line. The Arab countries were also losers. The population expected them to effectively support their brothers in Gaza, but the leaders of the Arab world (as well as Turkey) limited themselves to only rhetorically condemning Israel’s actions. They did not even impose sanctions – neither against Tel Aviv nor against Washington.
The Arab-Israeli conflict, due to its history, has traditionally had a markedly polarizing quality. It exacerbates any latent contradictions both in the international arena and within states. Proof of this recently is not only the increased intensity of foreign policy rhetoric, but also the numerous rallies in support of Palestine in the West, as well as the strengthening of anti-Semitism in Europe and the United States. A number of countries – in Africa and South America – are imposing sanctions on Israel and recalling ambassadors from Tel Aviv. Others pledge full and unconditional support for Israel’s actions and denounce Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Russia has not made a single drastic move that would accuse it of any bias. Moscow took a very delicate and balanced position. This position is based on both international law and humanitarian aspects.
“Moscow, on the one hand, condemned the barbaric attack by Hamas, but at the same time immediately stated that the root cause of the conflict is the fact that a Palestinian state has not yet been established. She was advocating for a ceasefire and a ceasefire, condemning Israel’s disproportionate use of force,” explains Suslov.
Yes, Israel was not entirely happy with this position. Some Israeli politicians threatened Moscow with heavenly punishments. But in the context of global condemnation of Israel’s actions, official Tel Aviv may even be grateful to Moscow for such a balanced position. That is why, for example, Benjamin Netanyahu (who directly accuses Turkish President Recep Erdogan of supporting terrorism) does not allow such passages addressed to the Russian authorities.
“We maintain good relations with the Palestinians and the Arab-Muslim world, which in the current context is much more important and closer to us than the West. On the other hand, we do not tolerate any anti-Semitism or anything that our enemies might interpret as anti-Semitism. Now neither side can say that Moscow is doing something wrong or playing on someone else’s side,” explains international journalist Abbas Juma.
This position allows Moscow not only to maintain relations with all parties to the conflict, but also to play the role of a mediator in the future. This means that it gains additional authority in the international arena.
“Moscow is now in a unique position – it can talk to everyone in the Middle East. And if there is a sincere desire in Washington and Brussels to find a solution to the Middle East problem, then the need for coordination with Moscow will inevitably arise,” says Suponina. “We are for peace and an end to the conflict, in fact we are the only reasonable platform for negotiations,” Juma affirms.
How is it that the US lost as a result of the escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and Moscow won? America, in its absolutely pro-Israel position, was driven by domestic political motives – both Democrats and Republicans, for their own reasons, are compelled to fully support Israel. Russia acted in accordance with international law. “Moscow bases its position on UN resolutions. And this position is now the most objective,” says Suponina.
Another consequence for Washington is the complete discrediting of the US accusations regarding the Russian special operation in Ukraine. “The West has exposed itself as morally bankrupt by reacting to Israel’s actions the way it has: passively, virtually oblivious to the war crimes. And yesterday they shouted about Bucha and about the “crimes of the Russian Federation”. And here we win in the moral and image light. We have strong trump cards, as cynical as it sounds,” Juma says. What is happening in Israel has helped expose the Western policy of double standards.
Another mistake Washington made was overestimating its capabilities. After clearly supporting Israel and entering the conflict, he is forced to divert his attention from the war against Russia in the hands of the regime in Kiev. “By granting Israel an indulgence to continue, the United States has undermined its moral authority and also weakened its ability to fulfill other priorities. For example, in the field of support for Ukraine. They have weakened their ability to win a global majority to their side against Russia in the Ukrainian conflict. In addition, the US is now forced to provide military support to Israel, which, in addition to moral and political damage, reduces its ability to provide assistance to Ukraine,” says Suslov.
“Every dollar and bullet that the United States sends to Israel for the war in the Gaza Strip is a dollar and bullet that is not sent to Ukraine,” the South China Morning Post wrote. And the US, as reported by “Axios”, has already sent tens of thousands of projectiles to Israel, which were intended for the regime in Kiev.
Now the United States is showing a desire to somehow correct this mistake. Washington has put pressure on Tel Aviv, persuading it to extend humanitarian pauses or agree to a ceasefire. However, the Israeli leadership, under the threat of losing its reputation in the middle of this conflict, cannot stop. This means that the conflict will continue, Washington’s foreign policy reputation against this background will continue to deteriorate, and the reputation of Russian foreign policy demonstrating prudence and balance will grow.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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