Over Three Decades Post-Soviet Collapse: Palestinian Radicalism's Enduring Roots and Russia's Continued Engagement with Hamas

The provided tweet from Visegrád 24 makes strong claims regarding historical and contemporary influences on Palestinian society. It asserts that > "The Soviet collapse in 1991 ended direct KGB support, but decades of Marxist propaganda via PLO left a lasting anti-Israeli radicalism in Palestinian society, fueling the ongoing conflict." The tweet further states, > "Russia continues its support for Palestinian terrorists such as Hamas." This perspective highlights a historical ideological lineage and a contemporary geopolitical alignment.

Historical records indicate a complex and evolving relationship between the Soviet Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Initially cautious, the Soviet Union deepened its engagement with Palestinian militants in the 1970s, providing arms and training. An embassy for the PLO was opened in Moscow in 1974, and by 1972, the Soviets had declared the Palestinian movement "the vanguard of the Arab liberation movement."

The PLO's foundational charter aimed for the elimination of Israeli sovereignty. While the Soviet Union's support was often pragmatic, it aligned with the PLO's anti-imperialist stance. However, the Soviet Union consistently pressured the PLO to adopt a more moderate position, including recognizing Israel's right to exist and engaging in negotiations, often clashing with radical factions within the PLO.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991 significantly altered this dynamic. Soviet support for the PLO waned, particularly after the PLO's sympathy for the coup plotters against Mikhail Gorbachev. This shift, coupled with growing Islamist trends in Palestinian society, led the PLO to engage in peace talks with Israel in 1991, culminating in the Oslo Accords.

Despite the historical ties with the PLO, the tweet asserts that "Russia continues its support for Palestinian terrorists such as Hamas." The Russian Federation has maintained contacts with Hamas, notably holding talks with Hamas leaders in Moscow since 2006. Russia officially does not designate Hamas as a terrorist organization, unlike many Western countries, and has stated that it views Hamas as a legitimate political force.

Hamas, which won Palestinian elections in 2006, is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and other nations. The enduring influence of historical ideological narratives, as suggested by the tweet, remains a subject of analysis when considering the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the evolving roles of international actors.