ABSTRACT

Toward the end of 1990 the Gulf crisis had made it obvious that even Arab states like Syria and Iraq, erstwhile allies of the Soviet superpower, were concerned far more with the US and the West than with the interests of the formerly dependable Russians. There was little encouragement or material support for the Arabs. Under these circumstances, the Soviet government could have been more forthcoming and decisive on the renewal of relations with Israel. Israel became attractive for the non-Jewish media as well. In addition to press and radio coverage, a film on Israel was made and shown in theatres in Moscow and other large cities. On television, Shishlin posed questions regarding Israel's position on the Gulf crisis, which was building up to the Allies military intervention in January and worrying the Soviet establishment about the future of its relations with the Arab world.