We've talked of how passions have run high here in France ever since the Middle East erupted. Every word from politicians gets scrutinised for signs of favouritism. Over in Russia, there's a clear-cut line, with the foreign ministry last week welcoming a Hamas delegation and the Kremlin blaming Israel's Gaza war on US imperialism – a throwback to the days when the Soviets championed the Palestinian cause. But has the messaging been too effective?
An angry mob last Sunday overran the tarmac in the Muslim-majority Russian republic of Dagestan. They had caught word of a flight in transit from Tel Aviv and were searching for Israelis. Why the anger? We ask about Moscow blaming the incident on Ukraine, whose Jewish president was among the first to denounce the October 7 massacre by Hamas.
In the nearly two years since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Israel has given Russia a wide berth as part of a quid pro quo: Moscow stays silent when the Israelis bomb Iran-aligned militias in Syria and the Israelis stay out of it in Ukraine and continue to welcome Jewish oligarchs. But now, are all bets off? More broadly, how does the Middle East impact a former Soviet space that's home to both Jews and Muslims?
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Louise Guibert and Lila Paulou.
