Russia looks for partners to push for Syria reconstruction: Israeli researcher
RAMALLAH, Palestine (North Press) – On Tuesday, a former Knesset member and researcher at the Institute for Policy and Strategy in Herzliya, Israel, Ksenia Svetlova, said that Russia is looking for partners to push for the reconstruction of Syria.
Last week, Israel closely followed Russia’s intense diplomatic activity in the Middle East.
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, before meeting a delegation of Hezbollah and the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi in Moscow.
“Russia continues now to push its regional policies forward seriously and continuously,” Svetlova said.
“The aim of the close relationships that Russia is building with most of the regional players is to push the Russian interests forward,” she added.
“It seems that Israel stopped questioning the visits of Hezbollah militias, Hamas, and the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine (PIJ) members to Moscow,” she pointed out.
“Lavrov made a visit to the region, where he reached an understanding on how to reconstruct Syria,” she referred.
Svetlova shed light on the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who stated that the US Caesar Act, which imposes strict sanctions on countries and entities cooperating with the Syrian government, “hinders the return of Syria to the Arabic lap.”
“In the UAE, they believe that the way to reduce Iranian influence in Syria is through a broad reconstruction process which Abu Dhabi plays an important role alongside Russia,” she stated.
During his visit to Qatar, Lavrov reached new understandings regarding the continuation of negotiations to reach “a peaceful solution” in Syria with Turkey and Qatar.
Russia’s new triangle
Strategic researchers in Israel believe that the most important statement by Lavrov during his visit to the Gulf States was the one issued in Doha.
Lavrov announced a new political process led by Syria, Qatar, and Turkey.
The new understandings include dialogues and negotiations between the Syrian government, armed groups, and opposition platforms to form a political solution for the Syria’s ongoing 10-year conflict.
The new triangle includes two countries with strong relations with the US, and can push the stalled political process forward and present a solution for the US, according to researchers.
As for the new US administration, Syria is not a high priority, but the US still maintains the Caesar Act.
The last step could enhance alliances with Russia, Turkey, and Qatar for the benefit of reconstructing Syria economically, according to Svetlova.
The high-level delegation of Hezbollah, on its visit to Moscow, talked about the future of Lebanon and the increasing Russian interference in it.
Israeli strategic institutions believe that Russia has been working for years in Lebanon to enhance its influence there.
Russia cooperates with multiple parties and does not refrain from establishing relations with any party or movement, including Hezbollah, according to Israeli experts.
“Lebanon is very important for Russia as a neighboring country to the south of Syria, where Russia is building itself a regional force, in addition to the gas present in the Lebanese waters,” experts added.
Moreover, Lebanon’s strategic location is important, as it is a crossroad between Israel and Syria which is under Russian-Iranian influence.