The two leaders are expected to discuss a new mechanism for Israeli-Palestinian talks that sidelines the U.S.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is slated to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. The two leaders will reportedly discuss the future of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the prospect of formulating a viable mechanism in which the United States would no longer serve as the primary mediator between the two sides. The meeting comes amid ongoing tensions between the Washington and the PA over the former’s recognition in December of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Abdel Hafiz Nofal, the Palestinian Ambassador to Russia, announced the visit last month. He also revealed that a meeting of the joint Russian-Palestinian committee will be held in Ramallah in March.
Nabil Amr, the former Palestinian ambassador to the Soviet Union, explained that after the Trump administration’s Jerusalem declaration—a move that entails the relocation of the U.S. embassy to the city—the Americans ceded their “traditional role” in talks between the two parties. “Russia will never accept the U.S.’s role in the peace talks,” he affirmed to The Media Line, “but the two countries can work together.”
Amr noted that Russia, on the other hand, “recognizes Palestine as a state with east Jerusalem as its capital.”
Accordingly, he believes that Russia is a vital ally for the Palestinians. As one of the five permanent members on the United Nations Security Council, Moscow’s “role in the Middle East is getting bigger and bigger. It effects political events as its presence in Syria is strong.” The Russians, Amr concluded, should push the Americans to provide balanced solutions.
Speaking to The Media Line, Hanna Issa, a Palestinian political analyst, said that Moscow still backs a two-state solution. “Russia respects a nation’s right to self-determination and votes for Palestine’s interest most of the time.” He further explained that Russia gives the PA substantial amounts of aid and avidly supports its economic initiatives.
“I believe that Russia will cooperate with the U.S. to facilitate peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis,” Issa contended, before qualifying that “Russia should pressure U.S. President Donald Trump to cancel his decision about Jerusalem.” Irrespective, he urged Putin to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table based on specific time frames and supported by an international cast of mediators.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with Putin to raise concerns about Iran’s actions in the Middle East, in general, and Syria in particular. The meeting came only a few days after Netanyahu met with Trump.
According to Zvi Magen, the former Israeli ambassador to Russia, Abbas’s meeting with Putin has nothing to do with Netanyahu’s Russian visit last month. He explained to The Media Line that while Abbas is changing direction on peace talks, Moscow still wants to be involved in resolving the conflict. “Russia has an opportunity now since Abbas is unhappy with the U.S. following its declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,” Magen elaborated, adding that Moscow’s enhanced role in the peace process would come with a modicum of prestige.
Nevertheless, he does not think that any formula that sidelines the White House will be effective since the U.S. has been involved since the beginning and is aware of the ins-and-outs of the process. Moreover, Magen stated, “I don’t personally believe that Abbas wants a peace process. But if he does, the U.S. must be part of it.”
Abbas met with two members of a Russian delegation in Ramallah last month. That visit and the one tomorrow come as the PA is ratcheting up its diplomatic outreach. Palestinian leaders have already visited a number of European capitals including Paris and Brussels.
Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian official recently asserted that, “We [are] working actively with Russia, China and Europe to establish an international forum that will oversee the [Israeli-Palestinian] peace process in the future, since we could not accept the U.S. monopoly over it any longer.”
Meanwhile, the Palestine Liberation Organization continues to organize protests and weekly “days of rage” to solidify Palestinian opposition to Trump’s plans.