Russian President Putin sees an opportunity to drive a wedge into the transatlantic partnership, exploiting disagreements between Washington and its European allies over the Ukrainian issue. From Moscow’s perspective, Europe remains the last obstacle to achieving its goals in the war due to its geographical proximity to Ukraine and Russia, its economic power, and its sweeping support for Ukraine, as well as its readiness to provide both military and economic assistance. Against this backdrop, Russia has intensified its rhetoric...
France is in the midst of a deep political crisis, exacerbated by President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly. Without a clear parliamentary majority, the French political system is now mired in unprecedented instability, with no resolution in sight. This crisis comes at a time when the French economy is showing signs of weakness and social polarization is worsening, strengthening movements at both ends of the political spectrum. Facing domestic challenges, Macron has intensified his international...
The circumstances of the downing of a plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines and the official responses by Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan highlight the complex and dynamic nature of Russia’s relations with its neighboring countries in the post-Soviet era. While Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and other countries in Central Asia would like to reduce their dependence on Russia, Moscow’s current economic weakness—a result of the international sanctions imposed on it—has made it increasingly reliant on these countries. This dynamic has...
Frequent discussions in recent weeks between senior Russian and Iranian officials indicate a tightening of strategic ties between the two countries. From Russia’s perspective, the war in Ukraine and the military confrontations involving Israel represent interconnected elements in military, economic, and diplomatic spheres. Thus, Russia’s reliance on Iranian arms supplies amid its prolonged war in Ukraine underscores its attentiveness to Iran’s military and strategic needs. At the same time, the extent of Russian support for Iran...
In 2023, the level of antisemitism in Russia intensified in comparison to the previous year. Senior Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin himself, have systematically used antisemitic tropes and Holocaust distortion to promote their political interests. Statements by government representatives encouraged and legitimized antisemitic discourse in traditional media and on social networks. Following the massacre in southern Israel on October 7, the antisemitic discourse escalated even more and translated into antisemitic...
Israel’s position regarding the war in Ukraine represents an ongoing dilemma, in part due to the connection that the US administration sees between the Israel-Hamas war and Ukraine’s confrontation with Russia, as well as Washington’s efforts to provide economic and military aid to both Israel and Ukraine. Israel’s neutral position on the war in Ukraine, in face of the longstanding pro-Palestinian position that Moscow has taken, signals to Russia that it can continue to ignore Israeli interests, and at the same time, does not help the...
In recent months, France has weathered a wave of severe violence rooted in Islamic radicalization. The tentative and inconsistent government response has increased public outrage and strengthened the far-right parties. Mass demonstrations by Hamas supporters have triggered antisemitic violence, and the attempt to present a united front in the fight against antisemitism was met with President Macron’s indecisive stance and the left’s refusal to condemn Hamas. Domestic considerations have also influenced the President’s viewpoint on...
The October 7 massacre in the western Negev and the subsequent war with Hamas have generated a notable surge in antisemitism and hatred of Israel in the United States. This phenomenon is characterized principally by a high level of hostility displayed toward Israel, numerous violent acts targeting Jews, and significant participation by younger people in protests, particularly Millennials and Generation Zers, many of whom refuse to see Israel as a victim of aggression and, rather, justify the actions of Hamas. These phenomena are...
