According to ToplumTV’s information, which other Azerbaijani sources have not yet reported, early this morning the Israeli embassy in Baku held a sniper exercise at its residence with the involvement of the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan and other power structures, most likely the State Security Service. What prompted the Israeli authorities to take such an unprecedented step? Last week, Azerbaijani exile media spread information that dozens of religious figures were arrested in Baku, several other cities and regions.
Is the sniper exercise at the Israeli Embassy residence related to the arrest of religious figures, or was the Jewish state taking a preemptive step? There is an impression that “something is wrong” in Israeli-Azerbaijani relations. Fatullayev, the owner and editor-in-chief of pro-government haqqin.az, announced that Azerbaijan has stopped flights to Israel since the beginning of the year, and he had to travel to Tel Aviv via Dubai.
For what purpose was Fatullayev sent to Israel? If the issue is purely journalistic, why didn’t he travel to Israel the day after the attack by Hamas militants, or during the height of hostilities in Gaza? Judging by the tone of Fatullayev’s Israeli impressions, Baku considers that “the future of the Jewish state is too vague.” Presenting the meetings with several Israeli analysts, the official propagandist of Baku notes with obvious disappointment that the majority of the public does not see Iran as a sponsor of Hamas.
It can be concluded that the initiative of the Hamas attack in Israel is attributed to Turkey. Fatullaev makes a pop-up allusion to his meeting with Joseph Chagall. The latter was born in Baku, was the ambassador of Israel to Belarus, was elected a member of the Knesset, is one of the key lobbyists of Azerbaijan in Israel, who is also closely connected with the political, expert and journalist circles of Turkey. What was the need to send Fatullaev to Israel?
Apparently, in connection with Azerbaijan’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which leads to the declaration of an independent Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, there has been a coldness between the two countries, or at least Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ilham Aliyev. Baku seems to have a problem understanding the attitude of the Israeli public. “Journalistic polling” in this case is not a basis for a conclusion, but it can add “lines” to the general picture.
Fatullayev conveys the impression that the public sentiment “The West will protect us” has depreciated in Israel. Perhaps, this is worth considering from the point of view that there is a need to rethink the strategic cooperation with Israel in Azerbaijan as well. Especially since the expectations of blaming everything on Iran, it seems, are not justified. On the contrary, the official propagandist of Baku makes it clear that they see other forces sponsoring Hamas in Israel.
Of course, it is premature to assume that Israeli-Azerbaijani relations are entering an “ice age”. But it seems that at least “a black cat has passed” between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ilham Aliyev. In what “dark room” does this take place? Aliyev declared himself a “pioneer in the fight against Islamophobia”. Netanyahu rules out declaring an independent Palestine. Is it Islamophobia or a guarantee of the existence of the Jewish state?
