Moscow ‘confused’ by Israeli anger at envoy’s remarks to ‘Post’

“All statements by the Russian ambassador quoted in the publication are in line with Russia’s well-known position on the Middle East.”

By LAHAV HARKOV
Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov. (photo credit: RUSSIAN EMBASSY)
Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov.
(photo credit: RUSSIAN EMBASSY)
Israel was too sensitive about Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov’s insinuation that Israel was the destabilizing factor in the Middle East, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Friday.
“We are confused by the overly sensitive reaction to the issues touched upon in the interview of our ambassador to Israel,” she said more than two weeks after Israel’s Foreign Ministry reprimanded Viktorov for his remarks in an interview with The Jerusalem Post.
“The position presented in it has been repeatedly communicated to Israeli colleagues on various levels,” Zakharova said, according to the Russian news agency TASS. “All statements by the Russian ambassador quoted in the publication are in line with Russia’s well-known position on the Middle East.”
Russia has always viewed resolution of the Palestinian issue as a prerequisite to stabilizing the region, she said.
In addition, Israeli strikes in Syria, intended to block Iran’s attempts to further entrench itself near Israel’s borders, “further destabilize the complicated regional situation,” Zakharova said.
She reaffirmed Moscow’s interest in continued dialogue with Israel on regional security.
“We highly appreciate the constructive dialogue of trust that we have,” Zakharova said. “We are committed to continue taking into account Israel’s security concerns in the decision-making process, as our envoy to Israel noted in the interview.”
Earlier this month, Viktorov told the Post: “The problem in the region is not Iranian activities: It’s a lack of understanding between countries and noncompliance with UN resolutions in the Israel-Arab and Israel-Palestinian conflict.”
There is “no proof Hezbollah created the tunnels” from Lebanon crossing into Israel, he said. The tunnels are used to attempt terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians.
“Israel is attacking Hezbollah,” Viktorov said. “Hezbollah is not attacking Israel.”
Two days later, the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned Viktorov and reprimanded him for remarks that “did not fit with the reality he had been shown many times.”
“I think it was made clear beyond all doubt that Israel does not accept these statements, and thus I hope we will bring an end to such embarrassing and unacceptable statements between us and Russia,” Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said.
The Russian Embassy in Israel said Viktorov’s words were taken out of context, but Zakharova’s remarks indicate otherwise.