PA President Abbas Heads to Moscow to Meet Putin - 'Russia Is a Country Close to Us. We Need to Consult' - NAnews

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“Russia is a country close to us. We need to consult”…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to visit Moscow from August 12 to 14, where he hopes to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, a client of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, on August 13, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal said. ros-mediaAbbas will arrive in Moscow on the evening of August 12, 2024, and before meeting with Putin, he will lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

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The main topic of discussion will be “the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Russia’s role in the region.”

“The situation in Gaza. They will talk about Russia's role, what can be done. We are in a very difficult situation, and Russia is a country close to us. We need to consult,” Nofal emphasized.

The visit comes amid the worsening situation in the Middle East following the death of Hamas Politburo Chairman Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the liquidation of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shokr in Beirut. Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah blame Israel for these events and declare their intention to take revenge. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov noted that Haniyeh's murder could affect negotiations with Israel on the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.

This visit is also not an isolated one. Moscow has previously hosted leaders from Syria, Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah, demonstrating Russia’s support for forces hostile to Israel. Meetings and consultations with these groups underscore Russia’s active involvement in the region, supporting its allies and using conflicts to increase its influence in the Middle East, despite sanctions and international condemnation of its actions, including aggression against Ukraine.

Let us recall that Mahmoud Abbas studied in Moscow at the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University (now the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, RUDN) in the 1970s. In 1982, he defended his PhD thesis at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences. His thesis was devoted to the topic: “The Connections between the Nazis and the Zionist Leadership During World War II”.

His dissertation topic was devoted to studying the “relationship between Zionists and Nazis during World War II.” The work was controversial and criticized, as some claimed that Abbas’ dissertation questioned the extent of the Holocaust, something he denied.

Mahmoud Abbas has a long history with Russia, dating back to his time as a student in Moscow. In the 1970s, he studied at the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University, which was known to have served as a breeding ground for foreign personnel, many of whom later went on to hold high government positions in their countries. The university was closely linked to the Soviet KGB, which used it to establish contacts with future elites in various countries.

These ties with Moscow play an important role in Abbas's current relations with Russia, especially given that Vladimir Putin, a former KGB officer and current Russian president, actively maintains close ties with the Palestinian leadership.

Abbas has repeatedly emphasized his ties to Russia, and his education in Moscow played a significant role in shaping his views and political positions. This also explains his desire to maintain warm relations with Russia throughout his political career.

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