On his third visit to Russia since he became prime minister
less than three years ago, Ariel Sharon pressed Israel's case
on several issues that are important to Israel in which
Russia is involved. Sharon made the trip despite the fact
that a general strike was scheduled by the Histadrut in those
days. The Israeli prime minister's decision to go ahead with
his trip was vindicated when the Israel Labor Court
unexpectedly refused to authorize the general strike.
Sharon mainly discussed Iran's nuclear weapons program, and
the future of the Road Map plan for peace between Israel and
the Palestinians with his Russian hosts.
Sharon presented Putin with Israel's concerns that Russia's
assistance to Iran's nuclear programs could be used for
nuclear weapons. Sharon told Putin that a nuclear-armed Iran
would pose a threat not only to Israel but to world peace. A
senior Israeli official told reporters that Sharon's comments
were listened to seriously, but that Putin made no concrete
commitments.
"My impression is that [the Russians] see the danger," the
senior official said, adding that Putin and Sharon agreed to
keep up consultations on the issue. Israel has been involved
in a discussion with Moscow for years about halting the
transfer of nuclear technology to Iran.
Sharon also detailed Israel's objections to a resolution
introduced by Russia to have the UN Security Council endorse
the Road Map. This would have the effect of making the UN
responsible for implementing it, rather than the US which has
filled this role up until now.
Sharon reportedly told Putin that the road map was aimed at
forging a bilateral agreement between Israel and the
Palestinians, and could not work if imposed by outsiders.
"The agreement we accepted was between two sides and needs to
be resolved between two sides, not by coercion from the
Security Council," Sharon is reported to have explained to
Putin.
"Russia's position in this [UN] forum does not help
strengthen our relations," the official quoted Sharon as
telling Putin.
The Sharon-Putin meeting also dealt with antisemitism. Putin
condemned recent remarks by former Malaysian prime minister
Mahathir Muhamad who said that "Jews rule the world by
proxy." Putin was in the audience at the summit where
Mahathir made this comment.
His remarks "fall into the realm of incitement, are not
constructive, and should be condemned from every possible
platform," the senior Israeli official quoted Putin as
telling Sharon.
Putin said Russia would continue trying to help the Middle
East peace process and added that recent violence in Israel
had caused much concern in Russia for former citizens who
have emigrated to Israel.
"We follow closely how our former countrymen settle down and
go about their lives in Israel, and the worsening of the
situation in the Middle East gives us certain concern about
their future," Putin said.
Sharon termed Putin a real friend of Israel and invited him
to visit, but said he realizes that this will have to wait
until after next spring's presidential elections in
Russia.
On Tuesday Sharon was to meet Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov
and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov before flying home in the
evening.
The path to blocking Iranian nuclear capability, say the
experts, leads through Moscow. Israel has long warned that
Iran is working steadily on the development of a nuclear
warhead and aside from diplomacy, Israel's only other option
is a preemptive strike. Israel must certainly prefer
diplomatic pressure to a risky assault that would surely be
followed by international censure.
One thing that Sharon apparently asked for was that the
Russians buy back spent nuclear rods from Iran after they are
used in the production of nuclear energy. These rods are
critical for enriching uranium, and Russia must prevent their
proliferation, says Israel.
Russia has also begun exerting tougher restrictions on its
export of nuclear products and mercenary Russian scientists.
Iran is increasingly the beneficiary of aid from individual
Russians and North Koreans, but not the states themselves.
But Russia's current restrictions are insufficient to stop
the flow of nuclear technology across its borders and Sharon
suggested specific steps to tighten them up.
Officially, Iran lists nuclear installations in Bushehr,
construction of which began even before the Iranian
revolution. But it is said to be developing nuclear complexes
at several other undisclosed sites. Iran claims that it seeks
nuclear capacity for commercial reasons only.
All Israel has to offer Russia is its expertise in counter-
terrorism techniques.
What anchors Israeli-Russian relations and Russia's
increasingly firm stance on Iranian proliferation is that
Putin has cast his lot with the West. To him, Israel is the
West and serves as a portal to the US, because of the Jewish
connection and because of one million former Russian Jews
living in Israel.
