[TrumpCard]

Russia cares very much about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict because the Russians hope to return to the days when their naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea was a significant problem for NATO. That is why Russia is in Syria. They had been forced by circumstances to pull all their forces out of the Mediterranean. That allowed the US to gut the 6th fleet and move essentially all of the (reduced) assets to the 5th fleet in the Persian Gulf. . . .  

I don't see much here about the connection to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.  This looks more like Russia's interest in regional influence.  I don't have any beef here.

Russia believes that it's presence in the middle east and Mediterranean creates big problems for NATO. Anything that weakens US ally Israel makes it more difficult for the US to counter this Russian influence. It also makes it more difficult for other middle eastern states to oppose Russian ambitions in the area. Lebanon is a poster child for this effect, as is Yemen. As long as Hamas has power in Gaza, it can stir the pot in Israel and elsewhere in the middle east. Russia likes that a lot. This strategy goes back to the days of Nasser/UAR days which is what actually started the US/Israel alliance. Despite a few "ups" and many "downs" for this approach, Russia still believes conflict in the middle east is to their advantage. In the past, they also had financial incentives they could provide to their client states. They basically can no longer do this, but they do have some military support that is an attraction. Iran is operating somewhat as a Russian "proxy" in the middle east, but for their own reasons, not Russian ones. Russia is getting the benefit at a very low cost to itself.

This feels like a stretch.  Lebanon has very little power.  It is Iran's puppet.  Terrorist activity emanating from Lebanon has occasion been a distraction to Israel, but it is not a significant drain on U.S. influence in the world or even in the region.  The situation in Yemen is pretty complicated because of tribal conflicts, but I don't think chaos in Yemen is of substantial value to Russia either.  There are rebellions in Yemen that distract Saudi Arabia, and SA is somewhat aligned with US interests in the region because both SA and the US are enemies of Iran.  But, as with the situation in Lebanon, I don't see anything happening in Yemen as a big enough issue to reduce US influence in the region.  The effect is generalized "chaos" seems too small to help Russia, whether in these two places or in connection with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.  

But don't take my word for it.  The proof is in the pudding.  Has Russia ever been shown to have done anything substantial to support the Palestinians?  Again, maybe I missed it.  That's just not something I've read.

[TrumpCard]

Russia cares very much about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict because the Russians hope to return to the days when their naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea was a significant problem for NATO. That is why Russia is in Syria. They had been forced by circumstances to pull all their forces out of the Mediterranean. That allowed the US to gut the 6th fleet and move essentially all of the (reduced) assets to the 5th fleet in the Persian Gulf. . . .  

I don't see much here about the connection to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.  This looks more like Russia's interest in regional influence.  I don't have any beef here.

Russia believes that it's presence in the middle east and Mediterranean creates big problems for NATO. Anything that weakens US ally Israel makes it more difficult for the US to counter this Russian influence. It also makes it more difficult for other middle eastern states to oppose Russian ambitions in the area. Lebanon is a poster child for this effect, as is Yemen. As long as Hamas has power in Gaza, it can stir the pot in Israel and elsewhere in the middle east. Russia likes that a lot. This strategy goes back to the days of Nasser/UAR days which is what actually started the US/Israel alliance. Despite a few "ups" and many "downs" for this approach, Russia still believes conflict in the middle east is to their advantage. In the past, they also had financial incentives they could provide to their client states. They basically can no longer do this, but they do have some military support that is an attraction. Iran is operating somewhat as a Russian "proxy" in the middle east, but for their own reasons, not Russian ones. Russia is getting the benefit at a very low cost to itself.

This feels like a stretch.  Lebanon has very little power.  It is Iran's puppet.  Terrorist activity emanating from Lebanon has occasion been a distraction to Israel, but it is not a significant drain on U.S. influence in the world or even in the region.  The situation in Yemen is pretty complicated because of tribal conflicts, but I don't think chaos in Yemen is of substantial value to Russia either.  There are rebellions in Yemen that distract Saudi Arabia, and SA is somewhat aligned with US interests in the region because both SA and the US are enemies of Iran.  But, as with the situation in Lebanon, I don't see anything happening in Yemen as a big enough issue to reduce US influence in the region.  The effect is generalized "chaos" seems too small to help Russia, whether in these two places or in connection with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.  

But don't take my word for it.  The proof is in the pudding.  Has Russia ever been shown to have done anything substantial to support the Palestinians?  Again, maybe I missed it.  That's just not something I've read.