Russia staying out of Middle East fray for now

MOSCOW — Russia has chosen to stay above the current fray between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Russian officials acknowledge that President Vladimir Putin prefers to focus on domestic issues and stay away efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and the PA. The officials said Putin sees the current crisis as a no-win situation for Moscow.

Putin did not attend the U.S.-sponsored Sharm e-Sheik conference earlier this month. The conference failed to stop the violence and Putin has tried to avoid taking sides in the conflict.

Former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov said U.S. President Bill Clinton has not sought Russian participation. Primakov said Clinton is acting mostly to help his vice president, Al Gore, win the presidency, Middle East Newsline reported.

"It has been clear, of course, that Clinton needed to maximize success in order to increase Gore's chances in the election," Primakov said. "But he had been conducting these talks for a long time. We were right not to intervene, because the parties did not ask for it. And if the parties don't ask, what can you do? Come banging your fists at the table and sit down?"

On Tuesday, Putin spoke to both Arafat and Barak. At the same time, Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Shimon Peres completed talks in Moscow as former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu began meetings with Russian officials.

Israel and Russia have grown closer over the last year as both countries cooperate against Islamic insurgency. Israel is helping Russia in battling Islamic insurgents in Chechnya, who are said to be receiving aid from PLO officials.

Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev has pledged to send fighters to the Middle East to help the Palestinians fight Israel.

Some Russian officials see an opportunity in the current Middle East tension. They said they are hoping for higher oil prices, which can benefit Russia.

Regardless, analysts warn that Moscow cannot stand on the sidelines for long. "Sooner or later, the Russian foreign ministry and the presidential administration will be forced to define their policies in the Middle East and take practical steps," said Mikhail Ivanov, executive editor of the bimonthly magazine Russian Life. "It's one thing to shun a rushed and badly prepared summit and let Bill Clinton take the flak. But this is no reason to totally withdraw from a politically vital region where Russia still boasts wide spheres of influence built up over several decades."