Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 17, 2008 Adar2 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:58 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 11:12 08/03/2008 Putin - Not so much pro-Jewish as free from anti-Semitism By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Russia, Vladimir Putin A Jewish leader once asked Russian President Vladimir Putin, how did someone like you with good relations with Jews, ever survive in an anti-Semitic organization such as the KGB. Putin answered that it was the domestic branch that was busy persecuting Jews and he served with the foreign intelligence directorate. Not an entirely accurate answer, Putin worked for the KGB in Leningrad before being posted in East Germany, but setting that aside, and disregarding for a moment the obviously sycophantic attitude of the questioner, there is a near consensus that Putin, whose successor was elected this week and will step down in two months, has been pro-Jewish throughout the eight years of his presidency. Even severe critics of his democratic record, such as former minister Natan Sharansky, admit that it's hard to fault Putin's record when it comes to his attitude towards the Jewish community. Many Jewish institutions were founded and flourished under his administration and while certainly far from being eradicated, many Jewish leaders, not all of them Putin-supporters, claim that he had little tolerance for the inbred Russian anti-Semitism. Advertisement When it comes to Russia, this is obviously not such a trivial thing. Russia-gazers are split over the correct historical analogy, is Putin a modern-day reincarnation of the pre-Bolshevik Czars or Joseph Stalin's spiritual heir? Both concepts give rise to disturbing memories. With a few notable exceptions, the Russian Czars enacted anti-Semitic legislation, subjecting the Jews to inferior status and forcing them to live in the pale of settlement far away from the large cities. They routinely saw pogroms and blood libels, instigated from above, as a useful way for keeping the masses happy. From this period originated the call - "beat the Jews and save Russia." Stalin was arguably worse, with anti-Semitism playing a major role in his murderous purges, and his paranoia of Jews during his last years leading to the "doctor's trials." Many believe that before his death he was planning the mass expulsion of Jews from Russia to the far eastern wastes of the Soviet empire. But the anti-Semitic tendencies of the Russian dictators are hardly surprising when one considers the people they lead. Being pro-Jewish is certainly a political liability in a country where one of the slurs directed by nationalist parties at this week's victorious presidential candidate, Dmitry Medvedev was that he was actually a Jew. So how can we explain Putin's supposed philosemitism? Some see its origins in his St Petersburg childhood, in which he apparently had a large number of Jewish friends, neighbors and teachers. This is probably true but Putin is hardly a creature of sentiment. He has said to a number of Jewish leaders who have met him that in his opinion, one of the major policy mistakes of the U.S.S.R.'s communist leaders was their crackdown on Jewish organizations and cultural activity and the deep suspicion with which they regarded any contact between Soviet Jews and their brethren in Israel and the rest of the world. In a Russia which is facing a demographic crisis of negative growth, Putin certainly views the emigration of an estimated two million Jews, to Israel, North American and Germany, as a net loss of highly-educated and productive citizens. His government has set and supported a number of official and semi-official organizations whose objective is to maintain contact with these expatriates and if possible, persuade them to return to the rodina. The Foreign Ministry has even begun financing Jewish cultural events for Russian Jews around the world, such as a Hanukah party in Berlin. Of course, not everyone is convinced. There is conflicting data, but some research groups insist that there has been no reduction in anti-Semitic incidents. Others see disturbing tones in the relentless persecution of the Yukos oligarchs, most of whom are Jewish. There is also a very instrumental side to his pro-Jewishness. Putin tried to use influential Jewish allies to get the Jackson-Vanick amendment, hampering trade relations with the United States, repealed. He has cynically used the anti-Semitism issue to attack his rival, Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko, who he also accused of being under "Zionist" influence. And besides, how can he be so pro-Jewish if he visits Ahmadinejad in Tehran and Russia is building a nuclear reactor for the Iranians and supplying them with nuclear fuel. There are answers of course to all these question marks. Even Putin is incapable of wiping out a thousand years of Russian anti-Semitic tradition. The oligarchs he took down set themselves up as political rivals and at the same time, many of the oligarchs currently in favor within the Kremlin are also Jewish. Neither Israel nor the Americans have officially criticized Russia over its ties with Iran, some officials have even said that Putin might be effectively controlling the Iranian regime and preventing it from going too far. And of course, he puts what he regards as Russian interests before any consideration. If that means using his ties with Jewish organizations to his benefit, he has no problem with that. Indeed, there is a distinct element of divide and rule to his attitude, Jews on his side get preferential treatment, the others are frozen out. Perhaps it would be more to describe Putin, not as being pro-Jewish, but as being released from his predecessors' anti-Semitic complexes. As a calculating politician, he understands the contribution Jews have made to Russia's fortunes over the centuries and the influence of Jewish organizations on the international scene. Putin will become prime minister upon leaving the presidency and will almost certainly remain the ultimate source of power in Russia. Will he remain a reliable ally in the future? It is stupid to try and make predictions but it is useful to remember one thing. As a rule, Jewish communities flourish most in democratic societies. The worst persecutions have always been under dictatorships. After a brief fling with democracy, Russia is firmly back on the path to autocracy and Medvedev's electoral coronation is ample proof of this Bookmark to del.icio.us   The Chancellor's visit Angela Merkel arrives in Israel to 'open new chapter' in bilateral ties. London paying Netanyahu says PR trip to U.K. wasn't funded by Israeli taxpayer.   1.   Complicity. 08:39  |  Jean Van Daem 08/03/08   2.   Jews should not be involved in supporting of dictatorship. 12:00  |  Vital 08/03/08   3.   Unfortunately many of Stalins "apparatschniks" were Jewish.... 12:35  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/03/08   4.   Putin likes NOBODY , maybe self. 15:03  |  ag 08/03/08   5.   time to send back one million of russians living in palestine 15:29  |  Babidu 08/03/08   6.   same same 17:14  |  al 08/03/08   7.   To Swiss Dino excuse for antisemitism 17:15  |  CM 08/03/08   8.   #3 Dino 18:07  |  Motke Chabad 08/03/08   9.   Jews made a huge mistake centuries ago 18:15  |  Moishe Kadish 08/03/08   10.   REAL MOSHIACH TIMES! "I WILL TELL NORTH GIVE ME BACK" (ISAIAH 11) 20:49  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 08/03/08   11.   You have too much censorship 21:03  |  Moe 08/03/08   12.   democracy good autocracy bad? 21:09  |  tulli 08/03/08   13.   #3 and Jewish involvement in Russian affairs. 21:49  |  Yaacov 08/03/08   14.   # 7 CM 22:36  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/03/08   15.   # 8 Motke Chabad 22:42  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/03/08   16.   # 13 Yaacov 22:44  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/03/08   17.   lol jews will always try to steal 00:32  |  bashir 09/03/08   18.   Stalin and his Jewish henchmen 01:14  |  Michael Friedman 09/03/08   19.   Jews under Stalin 01:35  |  Habib 09/03/08   20.   A good place for all jews 01:37  |  Ben Hamed 09/03/08   21.   Bashir # 14 01:38  |  Sam 09/03/08   22.   Stalin and anti-semitism 01:44  |  hollingsworth 09/03/08   23.   philosemitic:selling nukes to iran? 02:29  |  moshe 09/03/08   24.   Putin - Not so much pro-Jewish as free from anti-Semitism 03:46  |  Boris 09/03/08   25.   to Boris with these caveats 17:49  |  hollingsworth 09/03/08   26.   # 7 22:49  |  Dre 09/03/08

Today Online Next IAF chief: Ground operation needed to stop rocket attacks Responses: 19 Editorial: U.S. pressure for peace is welcome pressure Responses: 11 Court case reveals how settlers illegally grab W. Bank lands Responses: 35 Rightists arrested for storming village of yeshiva terrorist Responses: 92 PA to rebuild home of Islamic Jihad leader killed in IDF raid Responses: 26 Rosner's Domain If you marry them, you have a better chance of keeping them State Department: UN measures fuel anti-Semitism (WTR) Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? Neocons and the cultural proclivity of Jews (WTR) General Fraser and the third whiner More Headlines 13:49 Olmert: Israel interested in talking with Syria 13:40 Next IAF chief: IDF's entry into Gaza will stop rocket manufacture 11:23 Top police officer slams police response to E. Jerusalem clash 11:41 Wiesel declines Israel's 60th honor, cites prior commitments 10:33 3rd century 'Shema' prayer scroll proves ancient Austrian Jewry 13:23 Environment Ministry issues advisory on unusually high air pollution 12:24 Egyptians fire on Sudanese men crossing into Israel, wound one 09:39 Foreign Ministry warns Israeli tourists to avoid Tibet 09:24 Court case reveals how settlers illegally grab West Bank lands 08:47 MKs did not okay Netanyahu's luxurious PR trip to London 09:13 U.K. millionaire: Netanyahu's London trip was not a 'gift' 09:14 Georgian Israelis to Merkel: Don't block NATO entry Previous Editions Select Day 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar

Special Offers Advertisement FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer READY FOR PURIM? BUT - Who Will Guard The Hamentasch? Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM FREE JEWISH HISTORY COURSE Berel Wein's best selling lectures. 5000 Years in Five hours /CD/MP3 Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved