Russia to resume flights with Israel and 51 other 'friendly' countries

[former9thward]

Russia plans to end restrictions on flights to and from 52 countries after April 9, part of its plans to reduce measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Monday.

Russia plans to resume flights to and from Argentina, South Africa and other "friendly countries," Mishustin said, meaning those that have not joined the latest wave of Western sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special operation" to demilitarize its neighbor.

Other countries with which Russia will resume flights after April 9 include Israel, Algeria, China, Lebanon, Peru and Pakistan, Russian state media reported.

Mishustin also said Russia would be lifting restrictions on travel across the land border between Russia and China.

https://www.jpost.com/international/article-703205?_ga=2.198960492.236525674.1648990070-1229034299.1617710680&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Israeli+receives+death+penalty+in+UAE+for+drug+possession&utm_campaign=April+5%2C+2022

[I_UndergroundPanther]

1. I think israel

After this shit with russia , Israel should lose the us money given to the country.
All of it. And the weapons too. All of them,including the nukes.

[Beastly Boy]

6. Israel? What about 51 other countries?

India, Pakistan, China?

Should they lose all of it too, and the weapons,including the nukes?

What about Algeria, Argentina, Afghanistan, Bahrein, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Venezuela, Vietnam, Honkong, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Kenya, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mauritania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Mozambique, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Oman, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Serbia, Syria, thailand, Tanzania, Turkey, Tunisia, Uruguay, Fiji, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, South Africa, Jamaica?

Any idea what all these countries should lose?

[I_UndergroundPanther]

8. Well the ones actively working against democray

And support autocracy should be considered.

[Beastly Boy]

12. So all 52 countries should be considered, right?

And this consideration should include loss of "the us money given to the country.
All of it. And the weapons too. All of them,including the nukes", right? Or should Israel be punished for all of them, while they are being "considered"?

[Orrex]

20. How much financial & military aid does each of those countries receive?

Asking out of curiosity.

If, for instance, Lesotho rakes in a shit-ton of US cash, then it seems to me that we'd have a fair case to make re: withholding some fraction of that huge sum until the good people of Lesotho reconsider their position re: Russia. Of course, we'd have to weigh that against the relative value of the help that they provided to Russia, as well as the relative strategic importance of that nation.

But a country that receives less aid from us overall? Well, we clearly have a lesser interest in the workings of that nation, so we'd have a lesser incentive to withhold those funds and less leverage in doing so.


Best to go after the larger recipients of US aid and work down the list from there.

[Beastly Boy]

24. So you disagree with the first response in the thread

which states: Israel...After this shit with russia , Israel should lose the us money given to the country.
All of it. And the weapons too. All of them,including the nukes.

You favor a proportional approach rather than an absolutist one. Well, that's more fair. And you advocate this approach in response to Russia's list of countries it will resume Russian flights to, as punishment for Russia's decision to include them on this list.

...Ok, let me rephrase: your approach is less ridiculous than the aforementioned all or nothing proposition.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

46. No. I thought that response was excessive,excessively so

And we didn't give Israel nukes. They got them on their own.

[Crunchy Frog]

17. Whataboutism. LOL!

None of those other countries are considered to be America's bestest friends everrr. None of them are considered to be beacons of democracy, or get the vast amounts of aid that Israel does.

Or do you really want to lump Israel in with Myanmar?

[Beastly Boy]

22. The article was about 52 countries.

Addressing the content of the OP in its entirety is whataboutism? So what do you call singling one country out? Tunnel vision? Scapegoating? Israel bashing? Feel free to stop me any time, because I can out-ridiculous you if I so choose.

I lumped Israel with 51 other countries. Because Russia published a frigging list with 52 countries on it. What's Russia's list have to do with Israel being America's bestest friend eeeeeeeeever? Let me guess: Israel was supposed to protest being included in Russia's list because... bestest friends! And all other countries on that list can escape equal scrutiny because... bestest friends!

So hell yeah, I do want to lump friggin Israel with friggin Jamaica! And 50 other friggin countries that Russia lumped together, Myanmar included.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

44. I wholeheartedly support Israel, that's why I'm disappointed in them.

In the same way I'm disappointed when my country is on the wrong side of history. Ditto for the Philippines who we stood shoulder to shoulder with when they were invaded by Imperial Japan.

[Beastly Boy]

51. Disappointed in Israel based on a list of 62 countries whose flight restrictions were

lifted by Russia's prime minister?

Of all the disappointments to choose from, and of all the opportunities to express disappointment with Israel, this one seems the least appropriate one. Especially considering how conspicuously Israel has been singled out for unrelated criticism throughout this thread.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

55. I can't speak for all 62 nations.

I can only speak for those for whom my support and affection are more than perfunctory. Israel and the Philippines are on that short list. If others have an agenda that's not my responsibility. My responsibility is to follow my moral compass, not the compass of others. When it comes to Ukraine I don't want any daylight between liberal democratic nations and my country. If it was up to me I would kick Hungary out of the EU and NATO.

[malaise]

45. To quote one of your former Secretaries of State

America has no friends- only interests.
The US does not own the planet and other states have their own interests as well. Anyone who thinks this is about democracy is dreaming.

[treestar]

66. From a BBC article - we hear these all for decades

https://www.bbc.com/news/57170576

Why does the US give Israel so much aid?
There are a number of reasons why the US gives so much aid to Israel, including historic commitments dating back to US support for the creation of the Jewish state in 1948.

Moreover, Israel is seen by the US as a crucial ally in the Middle East - with shared goals and a mutual commitment to democratic values.

The US Congressional Research Service says: "US foreign aid has been a major component in cementing and reinforcing these ties.

"US officials and many lawmakers have long considered Israel to be a vital partner in the region."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. So disappointed in Egypt, Jordan, the Philippines, and israel

[Beastly Boy]

38. Frankly, If you are talking about this particular instance,

I am equally disappointed in all of them. No country gets a pass.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

40. Disappointed in Israel

With Russia occupying Syria they are practically neighbors and Russia looks the other way when Israel bombs Iranian targets there. The American-Israeli relationship is about much more then naked self interest. They need to choose a side.. That being said Israel isn't the only disappointing nation on that list.

[Beastly Boy]

41. Not disappointed in Jamaica?

It is on the same list.

Looks like you are now way past the OP in expressing disappointments, and we have now switched to American-Israeli relationship, a topic far removed from Russia's list. I have a few choice words about the US and Israel's "naked self-interest", but I am not biting on the deflection.

Can we get back to the OP, please?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

43. A cursory review of that list.

The United States has a special relationship with Israel and the Philippines that transcends self interest, Jamaica not so much.

[treestar]

70. The relationship of each of the 52 is not identical

Jamaica is not a huge player and not on the top five of countries we give aid to.

[Beastly Boy]

75. Jamaica is 100% identical when it comes to a list made up by Russia's prime minister.

All countries on that list are identical. It's not a question of foreign aid or how huge a player a country is. None of the countries asked to be on that list. It wasn't a matter of being ranked in the order of friendliness to Russia, as the title of the article falsely implies. Some of these countries have better relationship with the US than others, some receive more military aid from the US than others (BTW, if you make this a distinguishing characteristic, where is your criticism of Afghanistan? I can tell you where: it rightfully doesn't belong in this thread). Some countries are assisting Ukraine more than others (I am not sure you are aware of Israel's rather prominent place in this hierarchy), but again, that's a different discussion. And then, there are countries not on this list who have been "friendlier" to Russia than Israel, or who have done less for Ukraine than Israel.

Yet there is just one country that bears the lion's share of criticism for ending up on Russia's list, at least in this thread. And, for some totally random, unforeseeable, inexplicable reason I can't even begin to fathom, it ain't Jamaica. Go figure.

[treestar]

68. Yes, and Egypt and Jordan

are in the list of top five countries we give the most aide to, including Israel and Afghanistan and Iraq.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

71. Israel voted with us in the UN on both resolutions.

To be fair that list is a list made by Russia who they think their friends are

[questionseverything]

2. Any country not joining us in sanctions should not receive any aid from us

Yes I mean Israel

[onecaliberal]

4. Agree.

I don’t want my tax dollars supporting genocide in any way shape or form.

[Beastly Boy]

7. You mean 52 countries in total, no?

Why single Israel out?

[I_UndergroundPanther]

11. Because they are supposed to be our ally.

We cant have allies breaking sanctions and not condemning genocide if never again means something

[Beastly Boy]

14. So are India, Pakistan, Turkey and friggin Jamaica.

Didn't hear about what the US ought to do with Jamaica for some reason...

BTW, Israel, our ally, condemned Russia's war crimes in Ukraine: https://news.yahoo.com/israeli-pm-condemns-bucha-killings-124618434.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

[Orrex]

21. Why should the US continue to reward any of those nations for doing business with Russia?

Asking for thousands of dead Ukrainians.

[Beastly Boy]

23. That's exactly my point.

When I see all of those countries being addressed on equal terms, I can only applaud it.

Much appreciated.

[treestar]

65. Israel is supposed to be our ally

It is often played up that we need them, the base in the M.E., and that is why so much aid is justified.

They surely should oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The other 50 countries also - they should condemn it, even if they are poor countries. Same with Argentina, so what the hell are they doing? And we should stop any aid to them if there is any.

[smirkymonkey]

32. Yes. I agree. All 52 countries.

We should do everything we can to make life miserable for Russia short of starting WWIII.

[Beastly Boy]

33. That makes two of us.

Still, I am having a bit of a problem basing decisions about America's foreign aid distribution on a flight resumption list published by the Russian prime minister.

[treestar]

34. Why is Israel singled out

to get so much help from us?

[Beastly Boy]

35. Israel is not singled out over military aid by any means.

At least 60 countries receive it. Afghanistan, Iraq, Bangladesh and Egypt receive more military aid from the US than Israel does,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Foreign_Military_Financing

I don't think "singled out" means what you think it means. And I can't imagine where you get your information.

[treestar]

37. I am under the impression Israel gets much more

Sure we aid a lot of countries.

I can’t get over Israel having universal health care when we don’t. Though that’s our own fault as we elect Republicans in great enough number to prefer providing for another country.

[Beastly Boy]

39. Apparently, your impression is wrong.

And you are far from being the only one. It is not based on the numbers. I keep wondering why this impression is so persistent, despite the facts.

[treestar]

63. Currently outclassed by Afghanistan

https://www.bbc.com/news/57170576

Looks like a major benefit to the usual suspect: the military industrial complex.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

9. I agree

[rockfordfile]

16. I agree. These countries know what Russia has done, It shouldn't take a war

Things should've been done to Russia before this.

[Dawson Leery]

5. The time is coming to end Israel's financial "aid".

[Tetrachloride]

10. Tourists, Brain Drain and Friends of Putin: 3 distinct categories

[Coventina]

13. Pardon my French but Who the FUCK wants to go to Russia?!?!!?

[Crunchy Frog]

18. Lots of Russians in Israel, including some oligarchs hiding out from sanctions.

[Beastly Boy]

27. Do you seriously think any of them, including the oligarchs, can't wait to go back

to the place they consider themselves lucky to have escaped?

[Crunchy Frog]

28. ROFL! The oligarchs are there to escape sanctions.

[Beastly Boy]

31. By flying between Israel and Russia? Please don't make a spectacle and think for one second:

How can an oligarch escape sanctions by moving his physical ass to Israel? How would your assets in London be safer from sanctions when you are flying between Russia and Israel? And why would an oligarch fly back to Russia once he is in Israel anyway? Milder climate?

And once you have pondered this for a while, try to come up with an equally funny story about ordinary Russian and Ukrainian Israelis flying back to Russia.

[onetexan]

47. Funny thing is i just heard on Morning Joe this morning

The russians think because theyre russian theyre better than everyone else. Echoes of hitler's superior race...ironic they claimed to denazify UKR doesnt it?

[NoMoreRepugs]

15. Israel not leading the condemnation of war crime

atrocities vs civilians is UNBELIEVABLE. Who are they selling all those drones to?

[Beastly Boy]

19. But Israel did!

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israel-s-lapid-condemns-kyiv-suburb-killings-as-war-crimes-1.10717534

Same day as Biden did.

Also, on the following day, an Israeli cabinet member, from inside Ukraine, where Israel set up the only foreign state-sponsored hospital in the country:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/horowitz-blasts-war-crimes-on-visit-to-israeli-field-hospital-in-ukraine/

And, on the first day of the war:
https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/israel-condemns-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/

Makes all the claims of Israel not condemning war crimes pretty unbelievable, doesn't it??

[DavidDvorkin]

26. Facts are irrelevant when Israel is discussed on DU

Loud condemnation is the preferred approach, clearly.

[NoMoreRepugs]

42. I appreciate the INFO.

[DFW]

25. "Re-opening" the land border with China is sort of a joke

The land border between Russian and China is over 2500 miles long, much of it in undeveloped territory. Neither country has the power to close it in the first place. They can open and close the "official" crossings, but no one has the resources to police thousands of miles of Siberian forest.

[Crunchy Frog]

29. The Chinese might want to take back Vladivostok.

With the Russian military being currently preoccupied.

[DFW]

30. I saw one report that the Ukrainians had done some research

One of the units responsible for as some of the worst savagery was from Khabarovsk, and they had the names and addresses of the members of the unit. Maybe that was just released as intimidation, but if it’s true, Vladivostok might become prime real estate after Khabarovsk experiences an unexplained event of radioactive contamination.

[SmallFry]

48. Antisemitism is alive and well.

The replies have been eye opening.

[BuddhaGirl]

52. Opposing Israel's policies is NOTanti-semitism

Sheesh...how many times does that need to be repeated?

[SmallFry]

53. Never said it was.

Interesting reply.

[BuddhaGirl]

57. Sure

[Emile]

61. You said:

Antisemitism is alive and well.
The replies have been eye opening.

If that was not what you said, what does it mean?

[BuddhaGirl]

73. Exactly

Not too difficult to understand that post.

Lordy!

[treestar]

64. why is it interesting?

Maybe try defending the actual policy, instead of resorting to anti-semitism?

[Marius25]

69. It depends what those policies are.

I'm Jewish, and I get harassed constantly by left-wingers who condemn me for Israel's existence.

Quite frankly, I've never met an Anti-Israel leftie who even understands the history of that conflict.

[Beastly Boy]

76. What are the Israeli policies leading to Israel's inclusion in the list published by Russia?

And how are they different tfrom the policies of 51 other countries on the same list to the extent that Israel is to be singled out for criticism?

[milestogo]

54. So who wants to go to Russia?

[former9thward]

56. Russians for one.

There are millions all over the world. Israel has 1.2 million itself. It is a nice country to visit, at least in the summer time. I have been there a couple of times.

[Emile]

58. So can these countries confiscate their planes when they land?

[former9thward]

59. Those are countries not participating in the sanctions.

So the matter will not come up. Also no one has sanctioned Russian airlines anyway.

[Emile]

60. Wow, I can't believe there are that many countries not participating! They

should be ashamed!

[uponit7771]

62. Majority of countries aren't participating **BUT** they're low GDP and wont make a dent ...

... into Russia economy.

The thread is about Russia continuing flights not so many flights out of these countries that make a difference anyway.

There aren't droves of Cambodians flying into Russia even before the war, its a shithole country

[Marius25]

67. Israel voted to expel Russia from the UNHRC

Israel maybe playing a fine line of neutrality due to Russia being on its border, but Israel has voted against Russia.

[Samrob]

72. It is time to rethink our resource support to Israel and any other countries that support Putin.

Israel most of all should be ashamed of themselves. They have become the evil they say they deplore. No other way to look at it. Especially if you look a the embargo of Gaza and what they did to Rafah. India should be on the shit list too. Bring those out-sourced jobs back home!

[ChazII]

74. k&R n/t