Does Russia Support Israel? Insights about Russian Foreign Policy

The short answer is mostly no—though not never. The story of Russia Israel relations is complex. It has moved from Soviet-era hostility to current, tactical dealings. These are shaped by war, energy, and shifting partners.

At Israel’s birth, Andrei Gromyko supported partition at the United Nations. The Soviet Union recognized Israel in May 1948. By the mid-1950s, Moscow armed Egypt and leaned towards Arab states. After the 1967 Six-Day War, Moscow cut ties.

Diplomatic relations were restored in October 1991. This marked a new, cautious phase in Russia foreign policy towards Israel.

In the 2000s, Vladimir Putin called Israel a “special state.” He noted over a million Russian speakers there. Putin and Netanyahu set up a deconfliction channel in Syria in 2015. This cooperation kept the question of Russia’s stance on Israel in the gray zone.

Then came 2022. Israel was cautious on sanctions and weapons for Kyiv. Moscow leaned on Iran’s Shahed drones and reopened lines with Hamas after October 7, 2023. Unrest in Dagestan and Muslim region sensitivities led to tougher Kremlin rhetoric.

Today, Russia’s foreign policy towards Israel is transactional. There are narrow security contacts in Syria, sharper signals at the United Nations, and a tighter axis with Tehran. So, does Russia support Israel? Not as an ally—more a guarded partner when interests meet, and a critic when they do not.

For readers tracking Russia middle east relations, the balance is the headline. Russia Israel relations now depend on airspace deconfliction, Iran ties, and Moscow’s domestic politics. This shows that clear answers are rare, and timing is everything.

Russia–Israel Relations: From Soviet-Era Hostility to Pragmatic Engagement

Geography and memory shape today’s Russia Israel relations. The story runs from Cold War suspicion to careful coordination in Syria. From closed borders to busy air routes, culture, family ties, and trade pull in one direction. But Russia middle east relations and great-power rivalries tug in another.

The question many ask — is Russia pro Israel — has roots in this layered past.

Cold War Legacy and the USSR’s Pro-Arab Tilt

After backing the 1947 partition plan, Joseph Stalin’s USSR flipped. Moscow cracked down on Soviet Jews and, by 1955, armed and defended Egypt and Syria. Relations were cut after June 1967, and Soviet forces deployed to Egypt during the War of Attrition, even engaging Israeli jets.

Through that lens, Israel looked like a Western proxy. This framing tied Moscow to Arab capitals and hardened mistrust. It continues to shape Russia middle east relations and tempers talk of a Russia and Israel alliance.

Diplomatic Thaw in 1991 and the Impact of Mass Aliyah

Ties resumed on October 18, 1991, and Russia kept an embassy open after the USSR collapsed. A huge aliyah reshaped politics and culture in Israel. By 2017, about 1.5 million Israelis could speak Russian, near 17% of the country.

Hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens settled in Israel, while more than 100,000 Israeli citizens lived in Russia, many in Moscow. Media, business, and family networks widened Russia Israel relations and brought the tone closer to day‑to‑day normalcy than ideology.

Putin–Netanyahu Personal Rapport and Deconfliction in Syria

Personal ties mattered. Vladimir Putin and Ariel Sharon warmed the channel, and Benjamin Netanyahu made it routine. After Russia’s 2015 intervention in Syria, both sides set up real‑time deconfliction to keep Israeli strikes on Iran and Hezbollah targets separate from Russian units.

Crises came and went, including the 2018 downing of a Russian plane and the S‑300 delivery to Syria. Yet, leaders kept calling. Putin helped return the remains of IDF soldier Zechariah Baumel in 2019 and joined a Jerusalem trilateral with the United States and Israel. This mix of friction and coordination leaves the debate — is Russia pro Israel — open to context.

Russian-Speaking Israelis as a Bridge in Russia Israel Relations

Putin once quipped that Israel is “practically a Russian‑speaking country.” That line fits daily life: Russian news outlets, bookstores, and cultural events thrive in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Ashdod. YIsrael Beiteinu pushed a visa‑free regime in 2016, reflecting a strong Russian‑speaking electorate.

Surveys from 2009 to 2017 show most Russian‑speaking Israelis favored closer ties with Moscow without weakening the U.S. anchor. This pragmatic middle ground helps explain why Russia Israel relations can be steady even when Russia middle east relations are turbulent. It also explains why talk of a Russia and Israel alliance remains careful.

How Ukraine and Iran Reshaped Russia Israel Relations After 2022

The invasion of Ukraine changed everything quickly. Decisions in Kyiv, Tehran, and Gaza affected Moscow and Jerusalem. This reshaped the relationship between Russia and Israel in real time.

Israel’s Cautious Stance on Sanctions and Arms to Ukraine

Jerusalem condemned the invasion and sent medical kits, shelters, and protective gear to Ukraine. Yet it avoided formal sanctions and held back on air-defense transfers. The aim was clear: keep a deconfliction line with Moscow while tracking Russia foreign policy towards Israel in Syria and beyond.

Polls from the Israel Democracy Institute in 2022 showed roughly 60% of Israelis backed this cautious lane. Many Russian-speaking Israelis blamed Moscow for the war and rallied civil aid, but they also favored steady ties to manage Russia Israel conflict flashpoints in the north.

Russia’s Reliance on Iran’s Shahed Drones and Implications for Israel

Battlefield needs pushed the Kremlin toward Iran’s Shahed drones. This deepened a security axis with Tehran, unsettling Israel as it counters the IRGC and Hezbollah. The shift squeezed room for quiet deals with Moscow and complicated Russia Israel relations across Syria’s skies.

Each drone shipment raised a strategic question: does Russia support Israel when its supply lines run through Tehran? For planners in Tel Aviv, the answer mattered for early-warning, air defense, and freedom of action from the Golan to the Mediterranean.

Strains During the Gaza War and Moscow’s Renewed Hamas Contacts

After October 7, Russia’s tone turned sharper and meetings with Hamas resurfaced in public view. Analysts, including Fiona Hill, noted the cool-down from the earlier Vladimir Putin–Benjamin Netanyahu warmth and detected harsher rhetoric as the Gaza fighting escalated.

UN messaging mirrored the chill, signaling a harder edge in Russia foreign policy towards Israel. The cumulative effect—Ukraine, drones, and Gaza—pulled at Russia Israel relations from several angles at once.

Domestic Calculations: Managing Russia’s Muslim Regions and Unrest in Dagestan

Internal pressures also shaped the Kremlin’s line. The Makhachkala airport riot on October 29, 2023, exposed volatile currents in Dagestan. With memories of the Chechen wars and North Caucasus militancy, Moscow calibrated statements to avoid wider unrest.

Balancing ties with Turkey and Gulf states added another layer. In this mix, Russia foreign policy towards Israel tracked not only diplomacy but street temperature at home. That calculus colored signals in the Russia Israel conflict and complicated answers to does Russia support Israel.

Does Russia Support Israel

Does Russia support Israel in a simple yes or no? The answer is not that clear. Moscow keeps talking to Jerusalem but also tries to make friends elsewhere. This makes people wonder if Russia really supports Israel or just plays it smart.

Russia and Israel work together in some ways. They have a special line to talk and avoid fights in Syria. Putin and Netanyahu met a lot, and Russia helped bring back an Israeli soldier’s remains. In 2017, Russia said West Jerusalem is Israel’s capital, and in 2020, it welcomed peace talks between Arabs and Israelis. These actions suggest a close relationship, but it’s not called an alliance.

But Russia’s policy towards Israel is not all good. Russia gave Syria S-300s in 2018, and Israeli forces found Russian weapons in a war with Hezbollah. Russia’s use of Iranian drones and harsh words during the Gaza war also made things harder with Israel.

Israel also tries to keep things friendly. It didn’t arm Ukraine or join sanctions, hoping to stay flexible in Syria and other places. But the question remains: does Russia support Israel? Russia wants to talk to everyone and make deals when it can.

In short, Russia’s policy towards Israel is all about deals and timing. They work together when it’s good for both, but Russia’s main goal is to grow its influence. So, the question of whether Russia supports Israel is answered in shades, not just yes or no.

Areas of Cooperation and Friction: Russia Israel Cooperation, Security, and Diplomacy

Pragmatism is key in Russia-Israel relations. They share borders with Syria and face challenges in the Levant. This forces them to manage risks while keeping communication open. Their actions in the Middle East have far-reaching effects.

The relationship is complex. They make tactical agreements but also have sharp words. Sometimes, their conflict narrative fades as diplomats and generals talk.

Security Coordination in Syria and Airspace Deconfliction Mechanisms

Russia entered Syria in 2015. They use a hotline to avoid midair accidents. Israel targets Iranian and Hezbollah sites, while Russia protects its bases.

The system worked even after a 2018 incident where Syrian defenses hit a Russian plane. Moscow has expressed concerns over Hezbollah tunnels but urged Israel to limit strikes. These efforts keep cooperation alive in a crowded space.

Energy, Trade, and Cultural Ties: People-to-People Links and Visa Regimes

Nearly 1.5 million Russian-speaking Israelis influence daily life, media, and business. Visa-free travel started in 2016, thanks to YIsrael Beiteinu’s efforts. This shows the power of this community in elections.

After 2014, Russian buyers turned to Israeli produce. In 2020, Hadassah’s Moscow clinic worked on Sputnik V. These ties help keep relations stable, even when politics are tense.

Flashpoints: Russian Arms to Syria/Iran and S-300 Issues in Syria

Israeli troops found Russian-made systems in Hezbollah’s hands in 2006. Moscow said it tightened checks on Syria-bound cargo, but concerns remain.

In 2018, Russia gave S-300 batteries to Syria, increasing risks for Israeli pilots. Russian defense ties with Damascus and Iran challenge Israeli red lines, sparking debate.

Diplomatic Signaling: UN Votes, Crimea, and Statements on Jerusalem

Signals are mixed. In 2017, Moscow recognized West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, with conditions. Israel skipped a 2016 UN vote on Syria under Russian pressure. Then, it backed a U.S.-pushed vote critical of Russia on Crimea in 2018, before moving to neutral in 2019.

Jerusalem didn’t expel Russian diplomats after the Skripal case and resisted new sanctions in 2018. Yet, later strains over Gaza and shifting UN votes after 2022 show how Middle East relations constantly reshape cooperation between Russia and Israel.

Conclusion

Russia–Israel ties are complex and practical. The Cold War saw Russia support Arabs, but later, both sides focused on Syria. This led to a working relationship between Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.

This period saw cooperation in Syria, lots of travel between the two countries, and a large Russian-speaking community in Israel. It was all about meeting practical needs, not sharing the same beliefs.

After 2022, things changed. Israel didn’t join Western sanctions and helped Ukraine with non-lethal aid. Russia, on the other hand, started using Iranian drones and supporting Hamas.

The October 7 attacks and the Gaza war made things worse. Russia began to talk more to Hamas and got tougher with Israel. This was all about keeping peace in places like Tatarstan and Chechnya.

Even so, some cooperation remains. The Syria airspace hotline is important, and consular work keeps going. Family and cultural ties also keep people traveling between the two countries.

But the main question is: does Russia support Israel? Mostly, no, but sometimes yes, usually for specific reasons like in Syria or during crises.

In short, Russia and Israel work together when it’s necessary. This cooperation is shaped by Iran, global rivalries, and conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. It’s a partnership based on shared interests, not a close alliance.