On October 11, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion on aggravation of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, as the Israelis call it, or the October War, as it is known in Arab countries, a new round of Arab-Israeli confrontation began. The Palestinian Hamas movement called on Palestinians living in Israel and neighbouring countries to join the “third intifada” (the struggle for the separation of Palestine from Israel). Israeli authorities put the country in a state of war and announced the mobilisation of reservists. The United States was the first to support Israel and sent military equipment and ammunition to the conflict zone. The US was soon joined by France, Germany, Britain, the UAE and Ukraine. The Palestinians, in turn, got the support of Iran, Qatar, Oman and Yemen.
Russia is calling for a ceasefire and is committed to its consistent position in favour of the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem. In order to resolve the conflict, Russian diplomats are in contact with Israel, Palestine, Egypt and other Arab countries. According to the Russian Embassy in Israel, two Russians were killed in the Hamas attack and four are listed as missing.
How does the escalation of the conflict threaten international security? What has led to it? How will it affect the agreements reached in recent years between Israel and Arab countries? What countries could be involved in the conflict? What role can Russia play in the peace settlement? Participants in the discussion tried to answer these and other questions.
Speakers:
Anatoly Viktorov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the State of Israel
Vitaly Naumkin, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, President of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Andrey Baklanov, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Studies Section of the School of International Regional Studies, HSE University, Vice-Chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats
Amal Abou Zeid, Advisor to the President of Lebanon, Member of the Lebanese Parliament from the Free Patriotic Movement (2016–2018)
Daniel Levy, President of the US/Middle East Project (USMEP)
Zach Battat, Associate Research Fellow, Middle East and Central Asia Research Center
Moderator: