The three dominant themes in the calculus of Russian-Israeli relations now seem to be Power, Prestige and Proximity. Russia is obviously a rising or returning force in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean; while its global competitor, the United States, wants to reduce its own military involvement in the region. And because Russia’s Air, Naval and to some extent Ground presence in Syria makes Russian forces subject to friction with Israel’s Air Force operating against Iranian targets threatening Israel from its neighbor to the north, de-conflicting is a constant concern. Panel: – Jonathan Hessen, Host. – Amir Oren, Analyst. – Miss Paula Slier, Middle East Bureau Chief of Russia Today. – Prof. Zeev Khanin, Expert on Russian and Middle Eastern Studies, Bar Ilan and Ariel Universities.
