Russia’s hosting of the 5/22 FatahHamas meeting to sign their understandings on implementing their unity agreement (see “National Reconciliation” above) marked one of Russia’s most significant interventions in the peace process in years; Mustafa Barghouti, of the Palestinian National Initiative, stated (5/22) that it elevated Russia to cosponsor (along with Egypt) of reconciliation talks.
On 5/18, Israel acknowledged that Russia had expelled its military attaché, Vadim Leiderman, from its Moscow embassy for spying, stating that the charges were unfounded. Russia said (5/18) that it had warned Israel 3 times that Leiderman had inappropriately contacted Russian military officials without coordinating with the Russian FMin. and had expelled him the 4th time he did so. Russian security officials said Leiderman attempted to obtain information on secret military sales to Arab states, recruited Russian civilians as spies for Israel, and inappropriately lobbied on behalf of an Israeli defense company. Soon after, a senior Russian government minister canceled (5/23) a planned visit to Israel for defense talks amid tensions over the issue.