Strategically, Israel does not survive by applause. It survives by leveraging. And at this moment—when the war in Eastern Europe grinds on, Washington’s attention is fragmented, and new Middle Eastern players whisper ever louder in the corridors of power—Israel has a rare opportunity to reassert itself as something the West increasingly lacks: a broker that actually matters.

Structurally, unlike most Western capitals, Israel is one of the very few states with real, sustained access to both Russia and Ukraine. This is not theoretical diplomacy. It is structural power.

Geostrategically, Israel maintains military deconfliction mechanisms with Moscow in Syria, deep intelligence and political channels, and a large Russian-speaking population that anchors long-term........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)