"Cornet" shoots in the back

To the 20th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Russia and Israel

These days, a round date is being celebrated in the diplomatic circles of Russia and Israel - the 20th anniversary of the restoration (after a break from 1967 to 1991) of diplomatic relations between the two countries. A solemn event on this occasion was held at MGIMO. Passed...

These days, a round date is being celebrated in the diplomatic circles of Russia and Israel - the 20th anniversary of the restoration (after a break from 1967 to 1991) of diplomatic relations between the two countries. A solemn event on this occasion was held at MGIMO. It was held at a high level and very worthy. Many of those who were directly involved in this event 20 years ago spoke at the conference, when, let me remind you, Israel was still considered by many years of inertia as a "stronghold of imperialism" in the Middle East. Former Soviet ministers told how difficult it was for Gorbachev's team to steer towards a "new way of thinking" in relation to the Middle East.

Fascinating, with elements of a detective story, it turned out to be a story from both sides about how the decision to restore relations was prepared and implemented, which was quickly elevated to the rank of “strategic partnership”.

The “pink memories” of the past that sounded from the rostrum, however, were overshadowed by the events of today: one of the Russian speakers reminded the audience that the last terrorist attack in Israel was carried out by Hamas using a Russian-made Kornet anti-tank missile. This "Cornet" from the Gaza Strip recently hit a school bus in Israel. The driver and the only passenger, a 16-year-old schoolboy, were injured. Now they are in the hospital.

The question is clear: how long will Russian weapons fall into the hands of Middle Eastern terrorists, who, like many decades ago, direct them mainly against civilian Israeli citizens? The answer from a high-ranking Russian official sounded quite bureaucratic: prove, they say, that it was a shell from the Russian Kornet. True, the official admitted that several such cases (we are talking about the shelling of Israelis by Lebanese extremists of Hezbollah) were proved not so long ago, and measures were allegedly taken on them, etc. Curiously, none of those present had even a shadow of doubt about the route of Russian weapons to Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists through Syria. The answer of the same official sounded impressive: according to proven cases, they say, measures have been taken. But in general, Russia, it turns out, is supplying weapons to Syria under conditions of "tight control." In general, it should be understood as follows: we supplied, we supply and we will supply.

The Cornet episode has now become an important and extremely unpleasant subject of high-level communication between "strategic partners" - Russia and Israel. The Kornet shot was one of 150 Palestinian attacks, mostly Qassam rockets (Palestinian crossbows), on targets in Israel over the past week. Fueled by the Iranian mullahs, the Hamas leaders are thereby trying to redirect the hatred energy of the Arab streets from their authoritarian rulers to Israel. The calculation is simple: Israel at some point will not withstand the massive shelling of its territory and powerfully respond to Hamas in Gaza - as it was in December 2009 (Operation Cast Lead). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already promised to do this. And then the new authorities in Egypt, Tunisia and other Arab countries will have to stand up (at least politically) for the "Palestinians suffering from Israeli aggression." And Hamas is back on horseback! It is no coincidence that the leader of this organization, Khaled Mashaal, said the other day that "popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia brought Hamas back to life," while calling on Fatah and Hamas "to unite in jihad against Israel."

The militant fervor of the Hamas would be partly justified if they "call fire on themselves." But things are different. Israeli media cite videos posted on the Internet by members of the military wing of Hamas, the Izz al-Din al-Qasam Brigades. It is quite clearly seen on them that militants are firing rocket attacks on Israeli territory from the civilian quarters of the Gaza Strip. Thus, the terrorists confirmed the facts that the Israelis constantly talk about: Qassam missiles are launched from civilian objects: mosques, garages, car parks, etc.

Simultaneously with the intensification of Hamas rocket attacks on Israel, a powerful scandal erupted around last year's anti-Israel UN report on the aforementioned "Cast Lead", the main author of which is considered to be South African judge Richard Goldstone. The fact is that recently in his article for the Washington Post newspaper, this lawyer admitted that the assessments of Israel's actions given by him in the report do not correspond to reality. In his defense, the judge stated that at that time he did not have sufficient information to assess the situation objectively. In particular, to recognize the fact that it was the Hamas terrorists who began to bombard Israel, forcing it to take retaliatory actions that were not aimed at deliberately provoking victims among the local population. After that, the Israeli Foreign Ministry and President Shimon Peres appealed to the UN Secretary General with a demand to withdraw the document drawn up by Goldstone a year ago from the register of this international organization. However, Goldstone himself refrained from this requirement to the Secretary General. Israel's demand was ignored by the UN Secretary General.

By the way, in a month it will be a year since Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Damascus - the only leader of a large country (and a member of the Middle East quartet) who did not hesitate to communicate with terrorist leaders. Then Medvedev asked Mashaal to release Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas. And what is the result? Known: null.

What is the moral of all of this? It is simple: no one has been able to be partners in the region at the same time with terrorists and their victims. From a pragmatic standpoint. Not to mention morality. And it is also worth remembering about it during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the restoration of relations between the USSR and Israel.