Putin seeks role as 'honest broker'

Mr. Putin visited Egypt, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. His goal was to raise "Russia's profile and [to] stake out a role as a mediator in a region where Moscow's influence has waned considerably since the Soviet breakup," reports the New York Times.

By most accounts, he largely succeeded.

The Arab world welcomed Russia's efforts to reestablish itself in the peace process, given that "many Arabs feel that the American role as 'honest broker' has been compromised by its bedrock support of Israel" reports The Christian Science Monitor.

Putin is making an attempt to "balance an array of Russian strategic and economic interests that span the Arab-Israeli divide." He is also simultaneously offering the Arab world an appearance of "international balance" in the face of the US being the single dominating superpower, says the Monitor.

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In Egypt, Putin proposed an international conference on the Middle East to be held in Russia this fall. The proposal met immediate resistance from the United States and Israel, both of whom say "Israel and the Palestinians need to make much more progress first," reports the Times.

In Israel, a historic first visit by a Kremlin leader to that nation, Putin sought to " ease Israeli fears over Moscow's planned sale of weapons to Syria and its support for Iranian atomic activities," reports the Lebanese newspaper, The Daily Star.

But Putin backed away from the idea of holding a Middle East peace conference. His foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov said the proposal had been misunderstood and that Russia was proposing a meeting of experts, not leaders from the countries involved, reports the BBC.

While visiting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Putin did not broach the idea of a Russian-led peace conference.

Putin's visit to the West Bank on Friday, likewise was another first for a Russian leader. He laid a wreath at the grave of the late Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.

And in another indication of his desire to restablish a Russian role in the region, Putin offered to sell 50 armored personnel vehicles for Palestinian security forces during talks with Palestinian leaders, reports the BBC.

The deal is opposed by Israel but does not concern them as much as Russia's previous offer to sell anti-aircraft missiles to Syria.

Putin told Israeli President Ariel Sharon that the missiles were short-range SA-18 missiles that could not threaten Israel, "except in cases of flights over Syrian territory." reports Haaretz.

Putin said the missiles were part of a system installed on vehicles and could not be operated if removed. Many in Israel dispute that claim.

Haaretz reports there is no way the vehicles can be delivered without Israeli consent, given that it controls all land borders to the Palestinian terrirtories.

Israeli approval of Putin's plan appears unlikely. A government source said this week that Israel would not allow the troop carriers into the country. 'First let's see some steps toward peace and then it will be possible to strengthen the Palestinian security forces, which are meanwhile taking part in fighting against us,' the source said. 'The entry of any weapons to the territories requires our agreement and we do not want to see armored vehicles pitted against us.'

Also...
• Putin visit fires Mid-East press passions ( BBC)
• Getting beyond images ( Jerusalem Post)
• Iran rejects UN nuclear demands ( Deutsche Welle)
• Britain's professors against peace ( Jerusalem Post)

• Feedback appreciated. E-mail Jim Bencivenga .