Valdai Club

A political crisis is unfolding before our eyes in Israel, presenting the country with an unprecedented dilemma. For the first time in the history of the Jewish state, following the results of two election campaigns within one year, the leaders of main parties failed to form a government. For the first time, a third consecutive election has been scheduled.

In the period of globalization and simultaneous regionalization of the international economic relations system, researchers and practitioners are discussing the efficiency of the world’s different parts economic integration. The Middle East is no exception in this respect.

Even if Benjamin Netanyahu departs from the Israeli political scene, there is little reason to expect changes in the policy of the new leadership both as regards the Middle East and Russia, argues Dmitry Maryasis, Head of the Department of Israel and Jewish Communities Studies, Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)

The Golan Heights represent an equal problem for Syria and Israel. During the reign of both Hafez and Bashar Asad, this border was quite quiet (approximately from 1973-1974 till 2015). Although the peace treaty between Syria and Israel was not achieved despite the various attempts and mediation of different persons and states, there were no military actions and real threats from the Syrian side. This situation suited Israel, but not Syria, since most of the Golan Heights are controlled by Israel.

Although the results of the agreements between the leaders of Russia and Israel are not exactly known, the Russian leadership certainly got full information about what actions Israel is willing to take if any side of the conflict in Syria crosses the “red line”, says Valdai Club expert Dmitry Maryasis.