(23.6.2016) In short, Israel’s growing security cooperation with Russia in Syria is motivated by a common desire to stabilize the conflict, combat Islamic extremism, and pre-empt belligerence from Iran and its proxies. As relations between Israel and the West have deteriorated over disagreements on the status of the Palestinian territories, Netanyahu is gradually shifting the focus of Jerusalem’s diplomatic efforts towards Russia to bring to fruition Israel’s goals for the wider region.