Greetings, I am Yves. This article aims to clarify the misconceptions surrounding the so-called friendship between Israelis and Russians, suggesting instead that Vladimir Putin’s view of Israel as a refuge for Jews is an outdated narrative lacking substance.
By John Helmer, the longest-serving foreign correspondent in Russia and the sole Western journalist operating a bureau free from national or commercial affiliations. Helmer has held academic positions in political science and served as an advisor to government leaders in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is notably the first and only member of a U.S. presidential administration (Jimmy Carter’s) to establish residency in Russia. Originally published at Dances with Bears.
Back in 2019, President Vladimir Putin proclaimed that Russia and Israel form “a true common family,” asserting that nearly 2 million Russian speakers reside in Israel. He expressed pride in the high level of relations between the two countries, claiming their positions align closely. However, this statement grossly inflated the actual numbers of Israelis with Russian heritage.
Even by Putin’s own estimate, Israeli citizens of Russian descent pale in comparison to the approximately 3 million Americans of Russian origin. In fact, the Russian diaspora is more substantial in countries like Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the U.S., Brazil, and Germany, all of which surpass Israel. Interesting to note, Putin has never referred to these countries as “a Russian-speaking nation” or a “common family.”
Moreover, Putin misrepresents the national identities and allegiances of Israelis of Russian descent. At most, only around 25%, or about 400,000, have held Russian passports. Many of these have let their passports expire over the last five years and thus do not assert Russian citizenship. During the 2018 Russian presidential election, only 120,000 Israeli Russians were eligible to vote, with just 12,000 actually casting their votes.
Of those votes, Putin garnered approximately 8,640, trailing behind votes from other diaspora states such as Finland, Canada, Italy, Germany, and Greece—all NATO adversaries.
In the context of the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank, it is noteworthy that 5,067 soldiers serving have dual Russian nationality. This number is significantly outnumbered by U.S. and French nationals serving in the Israeli army. Under current Russian law, it would be a crime for these dual nationals to volunteer for Israeli forces—though serving under conscription is exempt. Interestingly, Israeli Russians working for companies that supply weapons to Ukraine, which are used against Russia, are not violating any Russian laws.
Members of the Chabad organization, which supports military actions against Russia, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and conflicts against Iran, also operate within the law concerning their ties and allegiances. This includes individuals like Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, whose ascendance to this position has been attributed to financial backing from Russian oligarchs and Putin’s political support.
In conclusion, Putin’s foundational claim of a “Russian common family” in Israel is fundamentally flawed—statistically, politically, and ideologically. His support appears to stem from personal motives rather than genuine diplomatic ties.
During the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, reports indicated that Russia delivered 827 tonnes of food aid to Palestinians. In contrast, Russia supplied approximately 1.6 million tonnes of grains to Israel on a commercial basis, making it a primary source of Israeli grain imports; this encompasses about 90% of Israel’s wheat imports.
Recently, the Ukrainian government announced impending sanctions against Israel for halting military trade, unless the Israeli government ceases importing Russian grain. In response, the Netanyahu administration restricted the unloading of Russian grain shipments at Haifa.
The Russian Foreign Ministry publicly issued a protest against this action. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova expressed regret, claiming that this step, evidently influenced by Kiev, undermines Israeli commitments to maintain economic cooperation with Russia and threatens Israel’s food security.
There has been no comment from either the President or the Foreign Ministry indicating that Israel’s military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran endanger the food security of those communities under siege.
Interestingly, Putin has shown public support for President Donald Trump’s redevelopment plan for Gaza under the “Board of Peace.” When questioned about the role Russia could play in resolving the conflict, Putin replied: “Concerning President Trump’s proposal on Gaza, you might find it surprising, but Russia is generally prepared to support it, provided it genuinely leads to our long-standing goal. Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, as affirmed by the UN Security Council in 1974, Russia has consistently advocated for a two-state solution: Israel and a Palestinian state, which is crucial for achieving a lasting resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”
A recent episode of the Red Pill Diaries podcast with Rasheed Muhammad delves deeper into Russia, Iran, and China’s roles in navigating opposition to U.S. strategies involving Israel. Click here to listen or view.
