Recently President Medvedev visited Syria and met President Bashar Alassad and Hamas leader Khaled Meshal. President Medvedev stated that joining [singlepic id=187 w=320 h=240 float=right] Hamas in the peace process and ending the tragedy in Gaza are things which the international community must work on more. The Russians have been working recently to become closer to Iran, Syria and even Hezbollah.

Israeli former ambassador in Russia Tsvi Magan said that Russia is working to improve its role in the international community. According to Magan, Russia could be working to bring both the Syrians and the two parts of the Palestinian people including Hamas into the negotiations process with Israel. Magan also said that the Russians want to reunite the Palestinians and to end the division between Hamas and Fatah to try to bring both of them to the negotiations table. The Russians could be planning for an international conference for peace that includes Israel, the Palestinians, Syria and even Hezbollah. Magan also stated that the Russians could be working for such a conference to try to make an effort similar to the American’s that are trying to separate Syria from the Iranian alliance.

The Russian effort in bringing all the sides of the conflict in the Middle East into the negotiations table is a part of a bigger plan. Recently Russia succeeded in empowering its economical power and it is still considered a great power when talking about military abilities and nuclear weapons. Such a step means a new development in the Russian political role in the area. Although the United States and Russia seem to be agreeing with each other, such Russian efforts could affect on the American image and diplomatic efforts in the region. President Obama’s government still refuses any kind of direct talks with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. The Russian decision to meet President Bashar Alassad and Khaled Meshal puts a new challenge infront of the Americans.

[singlepic id=188 w=320 h=240 float=left] Its is important to remember that even inside the Arab world the Americans have promised certain parties and regimes not to negotiate or communicate with Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran. Countries like Egypt, Jordan, Alhariri government in Lebanon and the Palestinian authority are considered close to the United States. The reason these countries agreed to be close to the American policy and to respond to the American demands is the American promise that they will continue to be considered as the right and lawful leaders of the their countries and the Middle East. Russia’s efforts in bringing Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran into the negotiations means an international recognition of them as lawful representatives of their peoples and partners for peace. Not only that this would make Israel reconsider the whole idea of a peace process but it will also put the Americans in a place where they will be asked about their promises, support and opinion about such an action.

While Looking at the situation and the possible development widely, one can notice that Russia is moving forward in a plan which was studied and started since Vladimir Putin took the lead of the Russian nation. First of all the Russian economy have been developed then the Russians made several actions to prove that they are still ready for any kind of confrontation such as in the Georgia war and the Russian activities against the Islamic movements in Chechnya. Now Russia seems to be trying to gain a better support from the Middle East, more involvement in the political work and to remind the United States that it can create relations with states and organizations which the West consider “involved” in terrorist and extreme actions exactly as the United States have developed relations with countries that Russia consider a threat on its local governess and control such as Georgia and other countries in Eastern Europe.

It is still early to predict what the Russians efforts would bring for the peace process in the Middle East and the world regarding hegemonies and balance of power but it is important to understand that Russia continues to work quietly and slowly while achieving success in every project it gets involved in.

Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad

A Palestinian-Arab living in East Jerusalem, Ziad graduated from College Des Freres in Jerusalem in 2003. Ziad finished his major in International Relations and English Literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ziad is a former President of the Watan student movement at the university. He is interested in Middle Eastern political issues and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Founder of the Middle East Post and MEL (Middle East Future Leadership Network), he represents Palestinian youth at several international conferences.

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