Yes, Russia Hates Israelis, Just Accept It |
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for years, here’s a piece of information that shouldn’t come as a surprise: Russia hates Israel and Israelis.
And that’s not my Ukrainian side speaking—it’s simply the reality. Recently, 40 Israelis were detained at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport over their alleged involvement in the Iran war. They were reportedly interrogated under strict conditions and told that Iran’s enemies are Russia’s enemies.
I’ve seen some accounts on X, including the Mossad Commentary, describe this incident as “shocking.” But it’s hard to see why. By now, Israel should have realized that Russia has a serious problem with the country and its people.
I’ve written extensively about how Russia targets Israel, Israelis, and Jews more broadly—and I’m even considering giving a dedicated presentation on the subject once I’m in Tel Aviv. But the truth is, you don’t need to go very deep to understand how bad the situation is. The 2023 “Jew hunt” in Dagestan is a case in point.
I’ve written extensively about how Russia targets Israel, Israelis, and Jews more broadly—and I’m even considering giving a dedicated presentation on the subject once I’m in Tel Aviv. But the truth is, you don’t need to go very deep to understand how bad the situation is. The 2023 “Jew hunt” in Dagestan is a case in point.
Some will push back on this, noting that many Israeli nationals also hold Russian citizenship. That’s a fair observation—I saw it myself at Ben Gurion last December. But the issue isn’t dual citizenship, or even the existence of some pro-Russian sentiment among individuals. In fact, according to 2025 Pew Research, over 80% of Israelis view Russia unfavorably.
The issue is deeper. Russia has always had a strong, structural hostility toward Jews and Israel. The Soviet Union was a hub of anti-Zionist propaganda, despite being among the first to recognize Israel in 1948. It has consistently armed Israel’s enemies—Syria in the past, Iran today.
The issue is deeper. Russia has always had a strong, structural hostility toward Jews and Israel. The Soviet Union was a hub of anti-Zionist propaganda, despite being among the first to recognize Israel in 1948. It has consistently armed Israel’s enemies—Syria in the past, Iran today.
Yes, Russia can maintain working relations with Jerusalem and even cooperate with Israel in certain situations. And it’s understandable that Israel maintains ties with a country from which Jews continue to make aliyah. That relationship, to some extent, is unavoidable.
But the illusion that Russia is, or could become, a place where Jews are treated well—whether under Putin or any future leader—is just that: an illusion.
It isn’t, and it won’t be.
The Domodedovo incident made that clear once again, to the point that Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had to intervene personally, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
But “unacceptable” is not enough. And since I don’t expect Russia to become a democracy anytime soon—if ever, given its history and societal structure—I don’t expect any meaningful improvement in how Jews are treated there either.
But “unacceptable” is not enough. And since I don’t expect Russia to become a democracy anytime soon—if ever, given its history and societal structure—I don’t expect any meaningful improvement in how Jews are treated there either.
This is, after all, a country that once produced The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
And, frankly, you shouldn’t expect anything better.