Israel & Russian Relations: "Soft Spot"

Russia's President Vladimir Putin 'Soft Spot for Israel'
Since the downing of the Russian plane Il-20 in September 2018, there has been a contradiction between President Putin “absolving” Israel of responsibility for the downing while Def Maj-General Igor Konashenkov charged Israel as “solely to blame.”  Apparently, Pres Putin has a soft spot for Israel on sentimental grounds.  On February 7, 2018 he inherited the Tel Aviv apartment he bought in 2005 for his beloved high school German teacher, Yuditskaya Berliner, who at age 96 died in December, 2017. 

10-17-18, The Israeli PM Netanyahu spoke to President Putin on October 7, 2018 the Russian leader’s 66th birthday declaring that he will visit Moscow in the near future. This would be the first meeting between these two “old friends” since the downing of the Russian Il-20 spy plane on Sept 17, 2018. At first Russia blamed Israel for the downing with its 15-member crew, when in fact it was shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft fire, during an Israeli attack on an Iranian-Syrian base in Latakia.  Reportedly, during the upcoming meeting, Putin & Netanyahu will discuss air cooperation.  In their telephone conversation, Pres Putin absolved Israel's responsibility of the downing of the plane.  Still, the incident seems to have somewhat soured relations. Resulting in Russia providing Syria with the vaunted anti-aircraft S-300 missile system. Apparently to restrict Israeli operations in Syria against Iranian and Syrian targets.  

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Syria's Russian Mediterranean Port
From a military and strategic vantage point, Iran and Syria are valuable Russian allies in countering the U.S. influence in the region.  Syria offers Russia bases on the Mediterranean Sea and an important port at Tartus that is the Russian Navy's only overseas port. Iran’s anti-American stance and its attempts at subversion of Arab pro-American regimes, is part of the chess game that scores points for Russia, albeit, Russia is not interested in a military confrontation with the U.S. or Israel. 

Iran & Syria’s trade with Russia are insignificant
Trade with Iran comprised only 1% of Russia’s foreign trade. Iran imported from Russia in 2016 $1,881,772,374 and exported to Russia $302,550,106 in goods.  Most of its exported goods included military hardware, including the S-300 air-defense system at a cost of $900 million.  Russia’s trade with Syria amounted to only 0.00605% of its foreign trade. Syria imported from Russia $182,254,336 and exported to Russia $11,020,676.  Military hardware constitutes a large part of the Russian exports to Syria.  Russia exports to Israel $1,469,348,877 worth of goods, or .515% of Russia’s foreign trade. Syria is not a very good paying customer, and much of the Russian hardware has been given to Assad at reduced rates or gratis [no cost].  

Israel's Russian Culture
For Putin’s Russia, Israel is a bastion of Russian culture.  With over a million former Russian citizens in Israel, imbued with Russian culture and impacted by its education, Israel is one of a few such countries in the world, and certainly, the only one in the Middle East.  This kind of Russian cultural influence plays a positive role in Putin’s mind.  Moreover, Israel, and Netanyahu in particular, are seen as a bridge between the Trump administration and the Putin government. 

Islamic Terror Problem for Russia
Moscow is also considering the threat Islamism poses to Russia’s security in the North Caucuses and beyond. The Chechen Muslims (having had two relatively recent wars with Russia) have established links with global Islamic terrorist groups, operating within and outside of the Russian Federation. Iran and Turkey’s Islamic empires were historic enemies of the Russian empire. Israel shares intelligence with Russia on Islamic terrorist activities.

Israel Seeks Strong Friendly Relationship
Jerusalem seeks to restore its understanding with Moscow maintaining a strong and friendly relationship with the Kremlin. Unlike the U.S., where the legislative and executive branches of government by-and-large support the Jewish state as well as the majority of Americans, Israel's relations with Russia hinges on who sits in the Kremlin; currently both parties are interested in maintaining cooperation.  Netanyahu is likely to prevail upon Putin to allow Israel to continue its operations against Iranian entrenchment in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon because both deliver lethal arms to the region threatening the Jewish state.

Problems between Israel and Russia might arise however, when Israeli stealth fighters inadvertently destroy the Russian installed S-300 air-defense missiles. 
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​Netanyahu: Israel Continues to Act Against Iran in Syria
10-16-18, Ynetnews -- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel continues to act against the establishment of Iranian military in Syria; emphasizing that he stays in constant contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin...

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Excerpted full report here
www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/271614/israeli-russian-relations-where-are-they-headed-joseph-puder