AZERBAIJAN’S APPROACH TOWARD ISRAEL
Since the SOVIET UNION’S disintegration, AZERBAIJAN has been
under direct pressure from RUSSIA and IRAN. RUSSIA supports ARMENIA
politically, militarily, and economically, which helps ARMENIA to occupy
Nagorno-Karabakh–which is internationally recognized as AZERBAIJANI land.[17] IRAN has also provided support to ARMENIA and blames AZERBAIJAN
for its close links with the UNITED STATES and ISRAEL.
By Mahir Khalifa - Zadeh
Since
the time of its restored national independence in 1991, AZERBAIJAN has strived
to become an important regional player and to retake lands occupied by ARMENIA.
In line with these goals and as a result of RUSSIAN and IRANIAN pressure, the
late AZERBAIJANI President Heydar Aliyev oriented the country’s strategic
foreign policy toward the WEST and ISRAEL. In 1997, he met with ISRAELI Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who made a brief stop in Baku. The two discussed
the IRANIAN threat as well as ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI intelligence cooperation. The
meeting was considered by some to be the starting point for the alliance
between the two countries.[18]
IRAN STRONGLY OPPOSES AZERBAIJAN’S TIES WITH ISRAEL
As
a continuation of Heydar Aliyev’s strategy, AZERBAIJANI President Ilham Aliyev
welcomed ISRAELI President Shimon Peres in Baku on in June 2009. President
Ilham Aliyev said, “I am happy to host you in my country. This is a most
important visit for AZERBAIJAN and we are interested in expanding and
strengthening the cooperation between AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL in the areas of
security, diplomacy and the economy.”[19]
Peres’s
visit took place despite strong opposition from IRAN.[20] President Aliyev’s decision earned him great respect in ISRAEL.
“The clear position of AZERBAIJANI President Ilham Aliyev on relations with ISRAEL,
in particular his refusal to submit to the demands of IRAN to cancel the visit
of ISRAELI President Shimon Peres to Baku and his refusal to join any anti-ISRAEL
campaigns” have garnered “sincere respect in ISRAEL.”[21]
COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL IS VITAL FOR AZERBAIJAN FOR SEVERAL
STRATEGIC REASONS.
First,
both AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL face regional security threats.[22] Despite official slogans of friendship and brotherhood
between two nations,[23] AZERBAIJAN very much fears IRANIAN threatens to use force and
expand its intelligence network in Baku and in other parts of the country.[24]
Moreover,
IRAN provides large-scale support to ARMENIA, which seriously damages AZERBAIJANI-IRANIAN
relations and creates serious mistrust between the two countries.[25]
THE ARMENIAN EQUATION
AZERBAIJANI
political elites consider ISRAELI or Jewish support a key element in countering
the ARMENIAN diaspora, particularly in the UNITED STATES and EUROPE. In 1997,
during an official visit to the UNITED STATES, President Heydar Aliyev met with
representatives of AMERICAN Jewish organizations in New York and openly asked
them to help AZERBAIJAN.[26] AZERBAIJAN is grateful to ISRAEL for lending the pro-ISRAEL
lobby’s weight in Washington to improve AZERI-AMERICAN relations.[27]
Another
strategic factor was the successful experience of the TURKISH-ISRAELI partnership
for over a decade, which inspired AZERBAIJANI decision makers to form strategic
ties with ISRAEL. Despite current problems in the TURKISH-ISRAELI relationship,
Ankara “understands that its regional aspirations require correct relations
with [the] Jewish state.”[28] Former ISRAELI Ambassador to TURKEY Zvi Elpeleg also noted,
“I do not think that relations will deteriorate because there are fundamental
reasons why TURKEY and ISRAEL have the same interests.”[29] AZERBAIJAN has attempted to play the mediator between the two
countries following tensions and disagreements that emerged as a result of the
Mavi Marmara incident. Undoubtedly, this type of mediation can expand Baku’s
role in MIDDLE EASTERN affairs and strengthen AZERBAIJAN’S international
standing.
Background Information:
THE TRUE REASON BEHIND TURKEYS WARMONGERING AGAINST ISRAEL
ISRAELI EXPORTS TO
TURKEY RISE 42% TO EQUAL EXPORTS TO GERMANY
TRIANGULAR SECURITY AND DEFENSE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TURKEY,
ISRAEL, AND AZERBAIJAN
Baku
welcomes the triangular security and defense partnership between TURKEY, ISRAEL,
and AZERBAIJAN. This model of cooperation has been successful concerning energy
affairs.[30] The strategic triangular partnership could be an effective
tool in strengthening and supporting U.S. diplomacy, as well as
counterbalancing the IRAN-RUSSIA axis in the SOUTH CAUCASUS and CENTRAL ASIA.
Modernizing
the AZERBAIJANI Army as part of this defense cooperation is clearly the next
and most important strategic dimension for Baku in its relations with
Jerusalem. From 1992 to 1994, ISRAEL supported AZERBAIJAN in a war with ARMENIA,
supplying Stinger missiles and other weapons to AZERBAIJANI troops.[31] Moreover, the Jews of AZERBAIJAN fought together with AZERIS against
the ARMENIANS during this war. Albert Agarunov, an AZERBAIJANI Army officer and
a Mountain Jew, became a national hero in AZERBAIJAN following the war.[32] More recently, in February 2012, as part of this bilateral
defense cooperation, AZERBAIJAN signed a deal to purchase $1.6 billion worth of
arms from ISRAEL.[33]
LOW PROFILE RELATIONSHIP
Last,
AZERBAIJAN views its relations with ISRAEL as part of a long-term strategy to
develop close ties with the UNITED STATES, in order to contain IRANIAN and RUSSIAN
threats. Though ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI cooperation has expanded to include foreign
policy, the military, economy, and intelligence, AZERBAIJAN does not have a
diplomatic mission in ISRAEL for fear of jeopardizing its relations with Muslim
countries. Moreover, both sides do not want to publicize their relations. AZERBAIJANI
President Ilham Aliyev described his country’s relationship with the Jewish
state as being like an iceberg: “nine-tenths of it is below the surface.”[34]
ISRAEL’S PRIORITIES VIS-À-VIS
AZERBAIJAN
According
to Dr. Ariel Cohen of the Washington, D.C.-based Heritage Foundation, “ISRAEL’S
strategic priorities include developing good diplomatic and economic relations
with CAUCASUS and CENTRAL ASIA countries, preventing IRAN from increasing its
influence in the region, and participating in energy projects, including oil
and gas imports to ISRAEL.”[35] In April 2012, ISRAELI Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
paid an official visit to Baku. He met with President Ilham Aliyev, with whom
he discussed bilateral relations and IRAN. According to ISRAELI analysts,
“Lieberman’s visit comes one month after the AMERICAN magazine Foreign
Policy reported that AZERBAIJAN has given Israel access to AZERBAIJANI airbases,
which is considered an important step towards a possible attack on IRAN.”[36]
Background Information:
AZERBAIJAN'S ISRAEL DIPLOMACY TESTS IRAN http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/israel-azerbaijan-and-iran.html
and
ISRAEL’S IRAN “WARMONGERING RHETORIC’S” ARE DECEIVING TACTICS FOR A
GREATER CAUSE http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/israel-azerbaijan-and-kazakhstan_6.html
Comment by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring: As mentioned numerous times on this blog,
mainstream media and to some extend even alternative media report that IRAN
presents the most serious threat to ISRAEL, and that IRAN’S nuclear threat
should be a concern for the entire world is mainly a convenient bargaining tool
for both, ISRAEL and IRAN. In most likelihood the behind the scene scenario
looks rather different. Like with AZERBAIJAN, ISRAEL may conduct secrete
wheeling and dealings with the PERSIAN state, a scenario not at all impossible,
since ISRAEL’S new political doctrine fosters geopolitical as well as economic
alliances with non Arab Muslim stated. After all the two countries, in the not
too distant past, had not always been arch enemies.
See:
ARE IRAN AND ISRAEL REALLY ARCHENEMIES, OR IS IT JUST A
FACADE? http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-real-archenemies.html
and
IRAN SOFTENS TUNE ON ISRAEL
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-improvement-in.html
ISRAEL CONSIDERS AZERBAIJAN AND THE CASPIAN LITTORAL AS PART
OF THE GREATER MIDDLE EAST
Both
AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL rejected the allegations. In Baku, Lieberman commented,
“Such reports are from the sphere of science fiction and do not correspond with
the truth.”[37] Undoubtedly, Lieberman’s visit once again confirmed the
strategic character of the ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI relationship. According to ISRAELI
news media, “The foreign minister acknowledged that ISRAEL and AZERBAIJAN–which
is strategically located on IRAN’S northern border–have good, stable relations,
and he described it as an ‘important country which is now a member of the UN
Security Council.’”[38]
ISRAELI
policymakers consider AZERBAIJAN and the CASPIAN littoral as part of the GREATER
MIDDLE EAST.[39] ISRAEL, which for decades has had to deal with hostile neighboring
ARAB states, has attempted to improve its security as well as its foreign image
and international relations. As part of this strategy, ISRAEL has tried to
develop relations with non-ARAB Muslim states. “Expanding its influence into an
area of the world heavily Muslim but not ARAB has long been a strategic ISRAELI
objective.”[40]
ISRAEL SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH
NINE NON-ARAB MUSLIM STATES
This
strategy is designed not only to improve relations with the Islamic world, but
also to demonstrate that ISRAEL can have peaceful relations with Muslim states.
ISRAEL has attempted to prove that there is no ISRAEL-Muslim or Jewish-Muslim
confrontation. The collapse of the USSR provided a brilliant opportunity for ISRAEL
to develop relations with the newly independent former SOVIET Muslim republics.
As of this writing, ISRAEL has successfully established diplomatic relations
with nine non-Arab Muslim states.[41]
In
this light, AZERBAIJAN’S experience of the peaceful cohabitation of AZERIS and JEWS
was attractive for the ISRAELI political elite. This model serves as a
foundation upon which to develop a long-term partnership. ISRAELI policymakers
enthusiastically responded to AZERBAIJANI attempts to establish close bilateral
ties.
Notes:
[17] “Russia Extends Lease on Military Base in Armenia Through
2044,” RIA Novosti, August 20, 2010, http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100820/160276128.html.
[18] David Lev, “Iran Warns Azerbaijan: Keep Mossad Out,” Arutz
Sheva, February 12, 2012, http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/152671.
[19] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “President Shimon Peres
in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan for Historic First Visit, Israel Ministry of
Foreign Affairs website, June 28, 2009, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/President_Peres_visits_Azerbaijan_and_Kazakhstan_28_Jun_2009.htm.
[20] “Iran Recalls Azerbaijan Envoy Following Peres Visit,” JTA,
June 29, 2009, http://www.jta.org/news/article/2009/06/29/1006211/iran-recalls-azerbaijan-envoy-following-peres-visit.
[21] Ilya Bourtman, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace,” Middle
East Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Summer 2006), pp. 47-57, http://www.meforum.org/987/israel-and-azerbaijans-furtive-embrace.
[22] Arye Gut, “Azerbaijan, Israel Have Become ‘Strategic
Allies’,” News.Az, June 28, 2011, http://news.az/articles/politics/39340.
[23] “Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad Held
an Expanded Meeting,” President of Azerbaijan website, News, November 17, 2010,
http://en.president.az/articles/1103.
[24] “Iran Threatens Pre-emptive Action amid Nuclear Tensions,” NBC
News, February 21, 2012, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46461790/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/iran-threatens-pre-emptive-action-amid-nuclear-tensions/.
[25] “Iran Provides Every Support to Armenia, Azerbaijani MP,” News.Az,
February 14, 2012, http://www.news.az/articles/politics/54665.
[26] Speech of Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev on the official
reception in honor of President Heydar Aliyev on behalf of the conference of
presidents of major Jewish organizations–July 28, 1997,” Heydar Aliyev
Heritage International Online Library, http://library.aliyev-heritage.org/en/7423863.html.
[27] Bourtman, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace.”
[28] Efraim Inbar, “Israeli-Turkish Tensions and Beyond,”
Hurriyet Daily News, March 12, 2010, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=israeli-turkish-tensions-and-beyond-2010-03-12.
[29] Serkan Demirtaş, “Amid Sound and Fury, Turkey-Israel Alliance
Endures,” Hurriyet Daily News, April 13, 2012, http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/10705597.asp.
[30] Alexander Murinson, “Azerbaijan-Turkey-Israel Relations: The
Energy Factor,” Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA),
Vol. 12, No. 3 (September 2008), http://www.gloria-center.org/2008/09/murinson-2008-09-04/.
[31] Soner Cagaptay and Alexander Murinson, “Good Relations
Between Azerbaijan and Israel: A Model for Other Muslim States in Eurasia?” The
Washington Institute for Near East Policy, March 30, 2005, http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/good-relations-between-azerbaijan-and-israel-a-model-for-other-muslim-state.
[32] Address of Jewish Diaspora of Azerbaijan, Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), June 19, 2003, http://www.osce.org/secretariat/42078.
[33] “Azerbaijan Rejects Iran Fears over Israel ‘Arms Buy’,” Defense
News, February, 29, 2012, http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120229/DEFREG04/302290002/Azerbaijan-Rejects-Iran-Fears-Over-Israel-8216-Arms-Buy-8217.
[34] Patrick Brennan, “Israeli-Azerbaijan Deal Leaked, Bolton
Blames Obama,” National Review, March 29, 2012, http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/294856/bolton-blames-obama-leaking-israeli-azerbaijan-relationship-patrick-brennan.
[35] Ariel Cohen and Kevin DeCorla-Souza, “Eurasian Energy and
Israel’s Choices,” Mideast Security and Policy Studies, No. 88 (February
2011), http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/MSPS88.pdf.
[36] Lieberman Denies Israel Has Access to Azerbaijan Air Bases,” JewishJournal.com,
April 23, 2012, http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/lieberman_denies_israel_has_access_to_azerbaijan_air_bases_20120423/.
[37] “Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman Visits
North Azerbaijan on 20th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations,” BayBak
Azerbaijan, April 24, 2012, http://en.baybak.com/israeli-foreign-minister-avigdor-lieberman-visits-north-azerbaijan-on-20th-anniversary-of-diplomatic-relations.azr.
[38] Herb Keinon, “Reports Baku Gave Israel Airfields Are
Fiction,” The Jerusalem Post, April 4, 2012, http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=267268.
[39] Bulent Aras, “Post-Cold War Realities: Israel’s Strategy in
Azerbaijan and Central Asia,” Middle East Policy, January 1, 1998, http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20297513.html,
p. 6869.
[40] Bourtman, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace.”
[41] U.S. Department of State, “Israel,” Background Notes, http://www.state.gov.
No comments:
Post a Comment