medevedev-netanyahu.sm
As a result, Israel is home to the world’s largest diaspora of Russian speakers outside of non-Russian-speaking countries.[2] The two nations have a growing trade relationship,[3] and a business venture involving Russian and Israeli scientists has produced and successfully tested a fuel tank for hydrogen-powered cars.[4] Meanwhile, security cooperation continues as both countries face the threat of terrorism from radical Islamist groups.[5] Next year, Russia and Israel will celebrate 20 years of continuous diplomatic relations.[6] Russia takes over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council Aug. 1.[7]
Diplomatic ties
The USSR was one of the first countries to recognize Israel, and the two nations established diplomatic ties shortly after the Jewish state declared independence in May 1948.[8] Relations soured as the Cold War intensified and the USSR sided with Israel’s Arab enemies. Relations reached a low point during the 1967 Six-Day War when the USSR cut diplomatic ties with Israel.[9] However, Soviet policy moved away from a pro-Arab stance in the late 1980s under the reformist policies of President Mikhail Gorbachev.[10] In October 1991, shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia and Israel resumed diplomatic relations.[11]
Russia, along with the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, is a member of the Middle East Quartet, the international body involved in brokering a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.[12] Russia is also part of the “P5+1,” the coalition of permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany working to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.[13]
While Russia has longstanding business ties with Iran, Russia has distanced itself from the Islamic Republic in recent months.[14] On June 9, 2010, Russia voted in favor of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran.[15] Since then, Russia has followed up on a promise to withhold a sale of S-300 air-defense systems to Iran – a decision in which Russia risks losing Iran to China as an arms client, as well as a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars.[16]
Although Israel maintains differences with Russia over its refusal to designate Iran-backed Hamas as a terrorist organization and its continued negotiations with senior Hamas officials, [17] both Israel and Russia have expressed a desire to further advance their relationship. In a 2009 meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said, “Russia is interested in upgrading its strategic relationship with the State of Israel to the same level as that which exists between us and Germany, France and Italy.”[18]
More recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to urge Russia to “put heavy pressure on Hamas” and use Russia’s relationship with the terrorist group to secure the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit, who remains in captivity by Hamas.[19]
Counterterrorism and military cooperation
Russian and Israeli leaders have recognized that cooperation on counterterrorism issues can enhance the security of both countries. For years, Chechnya-based Muslim separatist groups have attacked Russian civilian and military targets, killing thousands.[20] Similarly, Hamas and other Iran-backed Palestinian organizations launched a years-long campaign of bombings, rocket and missile attacks against Israelis.[21]
Chechen terrorists share some of the basic jihadist goals and characteristics as their Palestinian counterparts such as Hamas. For example:
* At the beginning of the Second Palestinian Intifada in 2000, Chechen terrorist leader Shamil Basayev offered to send 150 Chechen mujahedeen (holy warriors) to Palestinian areas to assist with jihadist activities there. He subsequently offered to pay $1,000 to the families of Palestinian “martyrs.”[22]
* Hamas has expressed ideological solidarity with Chechen terrorists. For example, Hamas distributed a poster inside a propaganda CD juxtaposing headshots of former Chechen terrorist leaders Basayev and Ibn al-Khattab alongside those of former Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.[23]
* A jihadist Web site mainly focused on Palestinian militancy and likely produced by Hamas – “AqsaTube” – featured a video of the life of former Chechen terrorist leader al-Khattab. A Russian Internet company began hosting the site after it was removed by a French company that had previously hosted it.[24]
Click here for more information about links between Chechen and Palestinian terrorist groups
Following the 2004 Beslan school massacre in which Chechen separatists killed 186 children and about 150 other hostages,[25] Israel’s then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was one of the first world leaders to offer assistance to Russia’s policy on terrorism. Since then, Russian and Israeli security services have collaborated in counterterrorism, starting with a joint memorandum to “encourage in every possible way the development of broad bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation in fighting international terrorism.”[26]
The two nations have held high-level talks and have conducted joint training of counterterrorism forces.[27]
On the military front, Israel and Russia have worked together on security and intelligence concerns, including defense technology.[28][29]
However, in recent years Russia’s growing arms trade with state sponsors of terrorism has troubled Israel. Russia has sold major weapons systems to both Iran and Syria, including tanks, air-to-air missiles, and aircraft, some of which have been found in Hamas and Hezbollah arsenals.[30] During Israel’s 2006 defensive war against Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces found that the terror group had Russian anti-tank missiles, likely delivered to them by Iran and Syria.[31]
Economic ties
Russia is among Israel’s top trading partners,[32] and both countries plan to expand trade despite a downturn in 2009 due to the global financial crisis.[33] Israeli exports to Russia increased by 351 percent from 2003 – 2008,[34] reaching almost $3 billion.[35] In 2006, the Israel-Russia Chamber of Trade and Industry and other Russian and Israeli business and manufacturing organizations signed a major agreement promoting bilateral trade.[36] During a meeting with Netanyahu in February 2010, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin noted that Russian markets were selling Israeli agricultural products.[37]
An Israeli-Russian business council was created in January 2010 to strengthen the relationships between businesses in the two nations.[38] In March 2010, the council held its first bilateral business forum in Moscow, featuring Russian and Israeli governmental and business leaders.[39] Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov addressed the forum about the need for both countries to increase bilateral direct investment, especially in the technology sector.[40]
Also in March, Russia’s largest diamond producer Alrosa agreed to supply about $300 million in rough diamonds to Israel’s diamond industry following a meeting between Alrosa executives and their counterparts from the Israel Diamond Exchange, as well as Israel’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Benjamin Ben-Eliezer.[41] While in Russia, Ben-Eliezer also led a meeting between an Israeli business delegation and Russian officials to discuss how Israel could help with projects related to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.[42]
Said Ben-Eliezer, “Russia is one of the most important economies, with a population of approximately 140 million people. [Russia’s] trade with Israel is hardly at its full potential, prompting the highest response from Israeli companies from all sectors joined in this delegation.”[43] Click here and scroll down for a list of Israeli companies that took part in the mission to Russia
Russia and Israel have cooperated on research and development and business ventures,[44] and in 2009 the two nations began a project to advance nanotechnology involving Russia’s state nanotech corporation, Rusnano.[45] In 2008, C.En, a Russian-Israeli-German joint venture, made a breakthrough in clean energy when it produced a fuel tank for hydrogen-powered cars. Led by an Israeli scientist, research teams from Russia, Germany and other countries worked to develop the tank, which is safe, lightweight and could help decrease dependence on oil.[46] Last year, Russian scientist Evgeny Velikhov became C.En’s honorary president.[47] Said Velikhov, “I believe that the fulfilment of the potential of this technology will resolve one of the central issues facing society today.”[48] Click here to read more about C.En’s hydrogen storage technology
Russian and Israeli high-tech companies are collaborating to provide cutting-edge services to customers. In June 2010, Russian telecommunications service provider NTC chose Israel’s VocalTec as its chief supplier for its Voice-over-IP (VoIP) network.[49] VoIP technology enables users to make phone calls through the Internet rather than a conventional phone line.[50] Similarly, Tel Aviv-based video networking technologies provider Ravidson has begun expanding its business in Russia. In 2009, CEO Boaz Raviv said that Radvision had won contracts with two Russian clients, including a major government office.[51]
The AFI Group is an Israel-based international holdings company that also does substantial work in Russia, where it is one of the country’s largest real estate developers. A subsidiary of AFI has been active in building shopping malls, hotels and other major construction projects in Russian cities.[52] Chaired by billionaire Lev Leviev, who immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan,[53] AFI also owns a spa in Russia and is a major shareholder of Israel Plus, a Russian-language TV station in Israel.[54] Click here to read more about Israel Plus and other Russian-language media in Israel
Tourism
Russians comprise the second-largest group of tourists to Israel after the United States,[55] and since 2009 the number of Israelis traveling to Russia has increased by 42 percent.[56] In 2008, the Israeli government ended visa requirements for Russian tourists,[57] resulting in 400,000 Russian visitors to Israel in 2009 – more than five times than the number of visitors in 2006.[58]
Many Russians travel to Israel for religious reasons. The Russian Orthodox Church has had a presence in Jerusalem since 1847,[59] and after the State of Israel was established in 1948, all property of the Russian Church Mission within Israel was transferred to the Russian Church Mission of the Moscow Patriarchate. Mission property within the West Bank, conquered by Jordan in 1948, was put under the control of the Mission of the Russian Church Abroad, which still administers those sites today.[60] Christian tourist sites in Jerusalem include the Church of the Holy Trinity, located near the Old City, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher,[61] a particularly holy site for Catholic and Orthodox Christians.[62]
In Israel, freedom of worship is a right that has been enshrined in law, and people of all faiths have access to the country’s numerous holy sites. Israel’s Declaration of Independence describes the country as a Jewish state but clearly extends religious freedoms to all of its inhabitants. The document states that Israel “will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions.”[63]
The Protection of Holy Places Law of 1967 states that anyone who vandalizes a holy site can be sentenced to as many as five years in prison.
Cultural ties
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the newly formed Russian Federation lifted emigration bans for its citizens. As a result, between 1990 – 2004, about 1.4 million people emigrated from the former Soviet Union to Israel,[64] making Israel home to the largest Russian-speaking population outside the former USSR.[65] After several years of stagnation, Russian immigration to Israel has rebounded in recent years, jumping 22 percent from January – April 2010 compared to the same period the previous year.[66] Currently, there are more than a million Russians living in Israel, and Russian is the third most widely spoken foreign language in the country.[67]
During an official visit to Russia in February 2010, Netanyahu said, “We view Russia as a special friend of Israel. Part of our success story in recent decades stems from our special Russian connection, from the ‘human bridge’ of more than a million Russian speaking Israeli citizens who are connected to the Russian culture and admire Russia.” Likewise, Putin told Netanyahu that Israel is Russia’s “long-term partner in the Middle East. We say again and again that there are over one million Russian citizens living in your country. Israel is almost a Russian-speaking country.”[68]
In 1999, Avigdor Lieberman, an immigrant from the former Soviet Union and currently Israel’s foreign minister, established the Yisrael Beitenu party in the Knesset (Israeli parliament). Drawing largely on support from Israel’s Russian-speaking community, the party is the third-largest and a key member of the current coalition government.[69]
The role of Russian-language media outlets has been expanding in Israel, demonstrating the increasing influence of Russian Jews in Israeli society. Israel Plus, a Russian-language cable TV station launched in 2002, broadcasts current affairs and commentary, Israeli entertainment programs and Russian TV and cinema to its Russian-Israeli audience.[70] Several Russian-language newspapers cater to Russian-Israelis, including Vesti,[71] Courier and others.[72] In May 2010, Tel Aviv hosted the Twelfth World Congress of Russian Press, which Netanyahu attended alongside 400 journalists from more than 50 countries. Netanyahu told the conference, “I really love and appreciate Russian culture and Russian people.”[73]
Footnotes:
[1] “Israeli schoolchildren to study Soviet Jewish immigration,” RIA Novosti, Feb. 3, 2010, http://en.rian.ru/world/20100203/157761013.html
[2] Cashman, Greer Fay, “FSU immigrants celebrated at Beit Hanassi,” The Jerusalem Post, April 28, 2010, http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=174137
[3] LeVine, Mark, “’A complex diplomatic entanglement,’” Al Jazeera English, Feb. 20, 2010, http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010/02/201022012248934818.html
[4] Cohen, Tova, “Israeli-led venture develops auto hydrogen fuel tank,” Reuters, Feb. 1, 2008, http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKNOA13121120080201; Max, Arthur, “Hydrogen still in the eco-car race,” AP via Physorg.com, April 18, 2010, http://www.physorg.com/news190778451.html
[5] Bourtman, Ilya, “Putin and Russia’s Middle Eastern Policy,” Middle East Review of International Affairs, June 2006, http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2006/issue2/jv10no2a1.html
[6] “PM Netanyahu meets with Russian PM Putin in Moscow,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Feb. 16, 2010, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2010/PM_Netanyahu_meets_Russian_PM_Putin_16-Feb-2010.htm
[7] “THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE,” UN Regional Information Center for Western Europe, July 29, 2010, http://www.unric.org/en/latest-news/25958-the-week-ahead-at-the-united-nations-the-european-perspective-4309
[8] Katz, Mark N., “Putin’s pro-Israel policy,” Middle East Quarterly, Winter 2005, http://meforum.org/article/690
[9] “Background Note: Israel,” State Department Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Dec. 17, 2009, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3581.htm
[10] Avineri, Shlomo, “Israel-Russia Relations,” Carnegie Endowment Report, April 2001, http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=659
[11] Freedman, Robert O. (Spring 1995), Israeli-Russian Relations since the Collapse of the Soviet Union”. Middle East Journal. 49(2),233-247, accessed July 15,2010
[12] “Russia rebuffs Israeli rebuke over open relations with Hamas,” Reuters via Haaretz, May 13, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/russia-rebuffs-israeli-rebuke-over-open-relations-with-hamas-1.290241
[13] Sturdee, Simon, “World powers discuss Iran as sanctions pressure grows,” AFP, Sept. 2, 2009, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g0V4v_KwXli-4rmoRMCcWFdszrMA
[14] “Russia turns on ‘irresponsible Iran,’” The Jerusalem Post, July 26, 2010, http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=182690
[15] Baker, Peter, “Major Powers Have a Deal on Sanctions for Iran, U.S. Says,” The New York Times, May 18, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/world/19sanctions.html?hp
[16] Russia may lose billions for breaching missile contract with Iran,” RIANVOSTI, June 20, 2010, http://en.beta.rian.ru/russia/20100630/159641465.html
[17] Russia’s Middle Eastern Policy,” Middle East Review of International Affairs, June 2006, http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2006/issue2/jv10no2a1.html
[18] Ratzlav-Katz, Nissan, “Russian Pres.: We Oppose Iran Nukes, Seek Ties With Israel, ArutzSheva, August 18, 2009, http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132976 [NEED TO FIND MORE CREDIBLE SOURCE]
[19] “Russia to deliver armored vehicles to PA,” The Jerusalem Post, July 1, 2010, http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=180163 ; Ravid, Barak, Fadi Eyad, & Hamas Service, “Netanyahu to Russia: Pressure Hamas to free Shalit,” Haaretz, June 29, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-to-russia-pressure-hamas-to-free-shalit-1.299019
[20] Ahmed, Saeed, “How Chechen rebels threaten Russian stability,” CNN, March 29, 2010, http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/29/chechnya.explainer/index.html
[21] “Hamas terrorist attacks,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, March 22, 2004, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terror+Groups/Hamas+terror+attacks+22-Mar-2004.htm; IDF Spokesperson’s Unit communiqué, Jan. 3, 2009; “Female suicide bombers blamed in Moscow subway attacks,” CNN, March 29, 2010, http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/29/russia.subway.explosion/index.html
[22] McGregor, Andrew, “Distant Relations: Hamas and the Mujahideen of Chechnya,” The Jamestown Foundation, http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=3166
[23] “Russian president invites Hamas to Moscow,” Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Feb. 10, 2006, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/html/final/eng/eng_n/html/hamas_moscow_e.htm
[24] “The Internet and terrorism: a week after AqsaTube was removed from the Internet, it returned in a similar format and with support from a Russian company,” Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Oct. 22, 2008, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/mt_e005.htm; Thorold, Crispin, “Jihad website AqsaTube goes offline,” BBC News, Oct. 15, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7672162.stm
[25] Osborn, Andrew, “Russians claim killing of rebel Basayev, the Beslan butcher,” The Independent (UK), July 11, 2006; “Putin meets angry Beslan mothers,” BBC News, Sept. 2, 2005, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4207112.stm
[26] Rabinovich, Abraham, “Israel aid Russia in fight on terror,” The Washington Times, Sept. 7, 2004
[27] Bourtman, Ilya, “Putin and Russia’s Middle Eastern Policy,” Middle East Review of International Affairs, June 2006, http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2006/issue2/jv10no2a1.html
[28] Katz, Mark N., “Israeli leverage over Russia vis-à-vis Iran,” Middle East Strategy at Harvard, May 26, 2009, http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/mesh/2009/05/israeli-leverage-over-russia-vis-a-vis-iran/; Bourtman, Ilya, “Putin and Russia’s Middle Eastern Policy,” Middle East Review of International Affairs, June 2006, http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2006/issue2/jv10no2a1.html
[29] “Russia, Israel plan joint venture to produce drones,” RIA Novosti, April 21, 2010, http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100421/158685876.html
[30] Beehner, Lionel, “Russia-Iran Arms Trade,” Council on Foreign Relations, Nov. 1, 2006, http://www.cfr.org/publication/11869/russiairan_arms_trade.html
[31] “Israel Complains Hezbollah Used Russian Anti-Tank Missiles,” AP via Fox News, Aug. 18, 2006, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,209162,00.html ; “IDF apprehends Hizbullah terrorist involved in July 12 kidnapping,” Israeli Ministry of Defense, August 8, 2006, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+from+Lebanon-+Hizbullah/IDF+apprehends+Hizbullah+terrorist+involved+in+July+12+kidnapping+8-Aug-2006.htm
[32] LeVine, Mark, “’A complex diplomatic entanglement,’” Al Jazeera English, Feb. 20, 2010, http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010/02/201022012248934818.html
[33] “Russia, Israel agree to boost economic ties,” Voice of Russia, Feb. 16, 2010, http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/02/16/4497713.html; “Russian-Israeli Business Forum,” SKRIN Market & Corporate News, March 31, 2010, http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices/14219092-1.html
[34] Figure calculated from “Fact Sheet 2008,” Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, http://www.export.gov.il/NewsHTML/FactSheets/Russia.pdf, accessed May 19, 2010
[35] LeVine, Mark, “’A complex diplomatic entanglement,’” Al Jazeera English, Feb. 20, 2010, http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010/02/201022012248934818.html
[36] “Major Israel-Russia Trade Agreement Signed,” Federation of the Jewish Communities of the CIS, March 22, 2006, http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?aid=371602
[37] “PM Netanyahu meets with Russian PM Putin in Moscow,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Feb. 16, 2010, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2010/PM_Netanyahu_meets_Russian_PM_Putin_16-Feb-2010.htm
[38] “Russian-Israeli Business Forum,” SKRIN Market & Corporate News, March 31, 2010, http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices/14219092-1.html
[39] “Chamber of Commerce and Industry holds first Russian-Israeli Business Forum,” SKRIN Market & Corporate News via AllBusiness.com, March 31, 2010, http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices/14219092-1.html
[40] “First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov attends the first Russian-Israeli business forum,” Official Web site of the Government of the Russian Federation, March 22, 2010, http://government.ru/eng/gov/priorities/docs/9880/
[41] “Alrosa to Supply Israel with Rough Diamonds,” Israel Gateway: Israel’s Foreign Trade Portal, March 23, 2010, http://www.israelgateway.com/articles/888/
[42] Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor Web site, http://www.moital.gov.il/NR/exeres/D44DB3FB-6E36-4937-A206-DEDEB23A7FC8.htm, accessed July 28, 2010, translated by TIP staff
[43] Ibid.
[44] “Russia seeks to boost ties with Israel in high-tech manufacturing,” BBC Worldwide Monitoring, March 22, 2010
[45] Coren, Ora, “Israel, Russia, to ally on nanotech,” Haaretz, June 8, 2009, http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/israel-russia-to-ally-on-nanotech-1.277534
[46] Cohen, Tova, “Israeli-led venture develops auto hydrogen fuel tank,” Reuters, Feb. 1, 2008, http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKNOA13121120080201; Max, Arthur, “Hydrogen still in the eco-car race,” AP via Physorg.com, April 18, 2010, http://www.physorg.com/news190778451.html
[47] “C.EN LTD. APPOINTS WORLD-RENOWNED RUSSIAN SCIENTIST PROF. E.P. VELIKHOV HONORARY PRESIDENT,” C.En Press Releases, June 3, 2009, http://www.cenh2go.com/New&Events/default.html
[48] “Academician Prof. Velikhov’s Endorsement and Support of C.En,” C.En Web site, May 25, 2009, http://www.cenh2go.com/PDF/Letter_to_Mr_%20Stern_from_Velikhov.pdf
[49] “Russia-based NTC Selects VocalTec for Complete VoIP Solutions,” VocalTec News, June 9, 2010, http://www.vocaltec.com
/site/modules/newsItem.asp?Sid=7&Pid=55&itemID=171&NewsYear=2010
[50] “Voice-over-Internet Protocol,” FCC, http://www.fcc.gov/voip/, accessed July 27, 2010
[51] “RADVISION Fourth Quarter 2008 Conference Call,” Radvision Web site, Feb. 5, 2009, http://www.radvision.com/NR/rdonlyres/A06F7F9B-876E-4C67-9918-9FB97FDE0A49/0/RVSN4Q08ConfcallScriptWebsiteFinal.pdf
[52] “Company Profile,” AFI Group, http://www.afigroup-global.com/afigroup_company_profile.htm, accessed July 27, 2010
[53] “Lev Leviev,” Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/XUR9.html, accessed July 27, 2010
[54] “Company Profile,” AFI Group, http://www.afigroup-global.com/afigroup_company_profile.htm, accessed July 27, 2010
[55] Levin, Lital, “Russian tourists flock to Tel Aviv instead of vacationing in Europe,” Haaretz, May 7, 2010,
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/russian-tourists-flock-to-tel-aviv-instead-of-vacationing-in-europe-1.288825
[56] Kononova, Svetlana, “Travel Without Borders,” Russiaprofile: Unwrapping the Mystery Inside the Enigma, June 28, 2010, http://www.russiaprofile.org/page.php?pageid=Culture+%26+Living&articleid=a1277732753
[57] Katz, Mark N., “Israeli leverage over Russia vis-à-vis Iran,” Middle East Strategy at Harvard, May 26, 2009, http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/mesh/2009/05/israeli-leverage-over-russia-vis-a-vis-iran/; Rosenblum, Irit, “Visa requirement for Russian tourists eliminated,” Haaretz, March 19, 2008, http://www.haaretz.com/news/visa-requirement-for-russian-tourists-to-be-eliminated-1.241795
[58] Levin, Lital, “Russian tourists flock to Tel Aviv instead of vacationing in Europe,” Haaretz, May 7, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/russian-tourists-flock-to-tel-aviv-instead-of-vacationing-in-europe-1.288825
[59] “The Russian Church Mission in the Holy Land,” Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, http://www.rusdm.ru/en/history.php?item=9. Accessed May 16, 2010; “History of Crimean War 1853-1856,” http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa47, accessed May 17, 2010
[60] “The Russian Church Mission In the Holy Land,” Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, http://www.rusdm.ru/en/history.php?item=9, accessed May 16, 2010
[61] “The Russian Church Mission In the Holy Land,” Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, http://www.rusdm.ru/en/history.php?item=9, accessed May 16, 2010; “Russian Compound in Jerusalem,” Jerusalem Pedia, http://jerusalempedia.com/Russian-Compound.html, accessed May 17, 2010; “Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the Russian Compound Jerusalem,” Israel Ministry of Tourism, http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Christian+Themes/Details/Russian+Orthodox+Cathedral+in+
the+Russian+Compound+Jerusalem+chr.htm, accessed May 19, 2010
[62] “Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” GoIsrael.com, http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Christian+Themes/Details/The+Church+of+the+Holy+
Sepulcher.htm
[63] “Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 14, 1948, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Declaration%20of%20Establishment%20of%20State%20of%20Israel
[64] Kashti, Or, “Study: Soviet immigrants outperform Israeli students,” Haaretz, Feb. 10, 2008, http://www.haaretz.com/news/study-soviet-immigrants-outperform-israeli-students-1.238970
[65] Avineri, Shlomo, “Israel-Russia Relations,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, April, 2001, http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=659
[66] Rudnitskaya, Anna, “Recession fuels rise in Russian aliyah,” JTA, June 3, 2010, http://jta.org/news/article/2010/06/03/2739437/recession-fuels-rise-in-russian-aliyah
[67] “Israel,” Federation of International Trade Associations, http://www.fita.org/countries/israel.html, accessed July 27, 2010
[68] “PM Netanyahu meets with Russian PM Putin in Moscow,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Feb. 16, 2010, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2010/PM_Netanyahu_meets_Russian_PM_Putin_16-Feb-2010.htm
[69] “Yisrael Beitenu,” Knesset Web site, http://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPageCurrent_eng.asp?PG=101, accessed July 2, 2010; Beaumont, Peter, “Avigdor Lieberman: Harnessing the Russians of southern Israel and beyond,” The Guardian (UK), Feb. 4, 2009, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/04/lieberman-israel-election; Shindman, Ronen; Harkov, Lahav, “’Israel Beiteinu is our central partner,’” The Jerusalem Post, July 19, 2010, http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=181881
[70] “About Us,” Israel Plus Web site, http://www.israel-plus.com/about.htm, accessed May 19, 2010
[71] “The press in Israel,” BBC News, May 8, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4969714.stm;
[72] Courier Web site, http://www.courier.co.il/, accessed May 19, 2010
[73] “Russian language press from all over the world sets goals for future,” RT, May 25, 2010, http://rt.com/Politics/2010-05-25/russian-language-press-congress.html
