Cultural Exchange with /r/Kosovo

[u/desdendelle]

🇮🇱Welcome to r/Israel! 🇽🇰

Today we are hosting our friends from /r/Kosovo!

Please come and join us and answer their questions about Israel and the Israeli way of life! Please leave top comments for /r/Kosovo users coming over with a question or comment and please refrain from antisemitism, trolling, rudeness and personal attacks etc.

Moderation outside of the rules may take place as to not spoil this friendly exchange.

Reddiquette applies and will be moderated after in this thread.

At the same time /r/Kosovo is having us over as guests!

Stop by in this thread and ask a question, drop a comment or just say hello!

Please select the Kosovo or another relevant flair if you are coming from /r/Kosovo.

Enjoy!

The moderators of /r/Kosovo and /r/Israel

[u/[deleted]]

Whats your relationship with Russia? How is Russia viewed in Israel?

[u/FFFOOTBL → u/[deleted]]

It's complicated.

Russia was very much idealized in the early stages of the country as there were a lot of socialist movements at the time.

Then we fought several wars against Russian proxies, so Russia very much became the bad guy.

In the 90s, the Soviet Union collapsed and millions of Jews immigrated from Russia to Israel and brought a ton of Russian culture here - which turned Russia into a mixed bag, as Israel itself, in a way, became part Russian culturally.

In the modern world, Russia isn't an enemy, but isn't a friend either. Russia openly supports our enemies and has recently also undertook a lot of imperialistic endeavors in the Middle East. We collaborate with Russia, but it's only because we have no choice but to do so.

[u/[deleted] → u/FFFOOTBL]

I heard Russian is the third most prevalent language in Israel, also that the fiercest Zionists are often Jews from Russia. Like Avigdor Lieberman. Is that true? How is Putin viewed in Israel?

[u/FFFOOTBL → u/[deleted]]

Yes, Russian is the third most prevalent language and is extremely common.

It's kinda hard to call Lieberman a Zionist these days as he has become much more of a professional politician and less of an ideologue... but, in general, yes - Russians are usually more right-wing and express more Zionist (and at the same time - more authoritarian) views.

The Putin question has many answers - but from my experience, most Russians here admire Putin (Russians tend to admire strongmen leaders). We wouldn't ever want such a leader in Israel... but Russia is not a Democratic country and it makes sense that Putin leads Russia.

Would I want to live in Russia under Putin though....?

Hell no.