Middle East Update

In a side meeting to the Annapolis conference this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak that Russia has decided to supply the nuclear fuel rods needed to activate Iran’s power station at Bushehr.

A Russian Embassy official told The Jerusalem Post on Monday November 26, that Russia will host a post-Annapolis follow-up summit to focus on a “comprehensive” Middle East peace.

Russia has agreed to provide nuclear know-how and technical expertise to Egypt to help Cairo with plans to build civilian nuclear power stations to meet growing energy needs.

Israel’s sense of urgency over Iran increasesDuring Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s whirlwind trip to Russia on Thursday October 18, he pressed on Russian President Vladimir Putin the urgency of preventing a nuclear Iran.

Uzi Mahnaimi (Sunday Times-UK)The Russians have sent technicians to upgrade Syria’s air defense system after Israel foiled it using stealth technology to remain invisible during an airstrike. The Israeli air force used a sophisticated electronic warfare system operated by F-15I jets and a fleet of specialist electronic warfare aircraft over the Mediterranean during the attack [...]

by Ezra HaLevi
Israeli Police have busted a group of Israeli neo-Nazis in the Tel Aviv region and found a gun and explosives. The youths are non-Jewish immigrants from the Former Soviet Union.

Itar-Tass-Russia
Moscow condemns and categorically rejects rocket attacks against Israeli territory, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s first deputy spokesman, Boris Malakhov, said Tuesday September 4.

“Of particular concern is the fact that such strikes are targeted against civilians and civilian facilities. There is no argument in support of such actions,” he said.

Alex Kogan (J. Post)
Russia is expanding its military presence in Syria, developing an advanced naval port at Tartus and providing Syria with sophisticated missile technology. Tartus, Syria’s second most important port after Latakia, is Moscow’s only foreign naval outpost situated outside the former Soviet Union. Russian [...]

Russia was partly responsible for the heightened tension between Israel and Syria at the beginning of the summer, Gen. Amos Gilad (ret.), head of the Diplomatic-Security Bureau at the Defense Ministry, told Army Radio on Thursday August 30.

“At a certain time, the Russians caused the Syrians to believe that Israel was preparing for war”

Syria has reportedly taken delivery of the first round of Russia’s advanced Pantsyr-S1E anti-aircraft missile and artillery defense systems. Previously, Russia and Syria signed an agreement to transfer 50 systems for $900 million; however, other sources report 34-36 systems. The Israeli military is concerned the new system can down Israel’s best jet fighters even while [...]