While Russia is officially an ally, there can be no question that President Dmitry Medvedev is a staunch ally of the nations that comprise the ‘Axis of Evil’, Syria, Iran and Hizbullah. While shaking the hand of President Shimon Peres and other Israeli state leaders, Medvedev on the other hand is selling advanced weapons to Syria, knowing full well these weapons are being passed along to Hizbullah and Hamas to prepare for the next military engagement with the IDF. In his visit to Turkey, meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, the two announced the need to include Hamas in the Mideast peace efforts, stating the terrorist regime must be an integral part of the process. Gul, who has been openly anti-Israel since Operation Cast Lead, used a joint press conference to announce there cannot be peace without Hamas’ inclusion.
Medvedev concurred, indicating the inclusion of Hamas in the process is a must if there is ever to be true peace in the region.
Russia and Turkey also used the state visit to sign a $20 billion deal by which Russia will build the Turkish facility, one that they insist will be for peaceful means only. Ironically during Medvedev’s meeting in Damascus prior to arriving in Turkey, he and Syrian leader Assad discussed turning the Mideast into a nuclear free zone.
Turkey, a secular Islamic nation, has in the past been a staunch ally of Jerusalem but all this changed since Operation Cast Lead, the 2008 IDF counter-terrorism offensive in Gaza. Since then, relations have been strained at best, and Turkey continues to call on the international community to take retaliatory steps against Israel for the military operation. Israel has indicated it no longer views Ankara as an honest broker to resume its former role as mediator in indirect talks between Israel and Syria.
