Russia will continue to use Israeli citizens as bargaining chips to advance their own political and diplomatic objectives, says former Israeli Ambassador Zvi Magen.
Naama Issachar, who was arrested in Russia during a layover, after 9.5 grams (0.3 oz) of cannabis were found in her luggage is facing 7.5 years in prison. Israel is trying to negotiate her release. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin asked President Vladimir Putin to commute her sentence.
"The Russians tried, and are constantly trying, to arrest Israeli citizens," Magen told Israel Hayom in an interview this week.
Magen, who served both as the Israeli envoy to Russia and Ukraine, said that there was nothing Israel could do but wait. "Everything that can be done to free Issachar, Israel has already done," he added.
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"Now, the question is, What does Russia want? Whoever started this offensive maneuver is of course Russia. The relationship is experiencing some tension, there are other occurrences of Russia using insults against Israel."
According to Magen, one such example was when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited President Vladimir Putin in Sochi last month, "and he had to wait a long time until President Vladimir Putin finally met him ... If we connect the dots, we get the picture that not everything is as calm as it seems."
Issachar's punishment "is not a legal decision, it is a political-diplomatic decision that was given to the court. The Russian court is not even a player in this scenario. ... The public in Israel is furious, and the Russians know this, and they are essentially 'poking us in the eye.'"
Magen stresses that "Issachar is a hostage to be used as a bargaining chip in any future exchanges," warning Israel should expect more such provocations.
"Russia's foreign policy strategy is based on taking advantage of a situation and creating crises," he continued.
According to Magen, "sooner or later they will release her. They will not drag out the situation past the necessary minimum time. Most likely it will happen within the coming days or weeks, or even months."
But the tensions will remain, he insisted.
