Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Israel has tried to minimize criticism over Moscow. The main reason for this cautious approach was the Russian military presence and involvement with Syria. A few years ago, Israel established communication channels with the Russians in order to avoid confrontations in Syrian skies. Thus, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had vowed to continue the path taken by his predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu of preserving and cultivating special relations with the Kremlin. During the first weeks of the fighting, Bennett even engaged in mediation attempts between Moscow and Kyiv.
Still, judging by developments in recent days, it seems that Russia is seeking to escalate tensions with Israel. Reports on June 19 said that Russia is now circulating a draft for a United Nations Security Council resolution that will condemn Israel over an alleged strike last week on the Damascus airport. The draft blames the attack on Israel, saying that it undermines regional stability and goes against international law.
