President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has long cast himself as a friend of Israel and the Jewish people. But amid the worst attack on Israel in 50 years, the high regard that Mr. Putin has shown for Israel in the past appears remarkably absent. More than three days after the start of the incursion by Hamas, there has been no message of condolence from the Kremlin, even though Mr. Putin previously published such notes of sympathy in the wake of terrorist attacks in Israel. And he has not yet called Mr. Netanyahu, even though he spoke with Israeli leaders at least 11 times in 2022 and developed a close relationship with Mr. Netanyahu over more than a decade of meetings and phone calls. Instead, Mr. Putin’s spokesman on Monday struck a neutral stance, saying that Russia was “extremely concerned” and calling for an immediate halt to the fighting.

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Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Putin’s Organizations: Moscow Jewish Museum, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Israel, Moscow, Jerusalem, Nazi, Leningrad