Russia is a declining power and the military forces it is able to dispatch to the region are no match for Israel's capabilities.

It is therefore necessary for Russia to be friendly with Israel.

On the other hand Israel doesn't mind Russia taking care of certain dangers that otherwise Israel would have needed to deal with.

most of them are dirt poor.

Lets refresh the memory WHAT and WHO is America.
First, america REFUSED any jewish refugee on its soil, from any German ship arriving to NY prior to WWII.
Second, in 1948 during the voting for israel's independence, america voted AGAINST, while Soviet Union voted FOR. Only in the second round US decided to vote Yes.
During the first 10-15 years of Israel, US refused again to provide any support, nor economical, nor industrial..nothing.
It was SOVIET UNION AND CHECHOSLOVAKIA who supported Israel during these years, providing everything.
Even when the balance of powers in the world started shifting, again, it wasn't US who supported Israel, but FRANCE, who provided Israel with military assistance, economical, cultural ties were flourishing, and of course France provided Israel with the most valuable tools for its defence, the superior MIRAGE jets.
Even during 1973 war's worst time, US refused to provide badly need military assistance, and only after Kissinger's pressure on Nixon, first Hercules plane with weapons arrived.
US was never a friend of Israel. US uses Israel as its tool for al kinds of aggressions in the Middle East.
Nobody should trust US.
US is source and originator of fake news, US has turned into an evil.

... in "warm water" ports on the eastern Mediterranean.

Moscow's solid naval & air presence in Banyas - Tartous - Latakia areas of Syria helps neutralize long-standing (since WW II) powerful presence of NATO and the US 6th Fleet on Russia's exposed southern flank.... to the delight of Putin's generals.

This, in all likelihood, is Putin's PRIMARY motivation for involvement in Syria.

Two other fortuitous factors for Putin in the rise of Russian presence in E. Med:
- Erdogan's rule in Turkey that has also assisted in the NATO-weakening process...
- and perhaps most important of all: ERRATIC behavior of US Pres Trump!

Russia is in the M.E. for it"s own national interests and greater influence. Russia must watch out for wrong friends: Erdogan, Bashar Assad, Ali Khamenei and the regime in Riyyad Saudi-Arabia.

Shabab started a short time ago to infiltrate Northern Mozambique.in border area with Tanzania

Putin is a consummate tactician and strategic thinker. He has played a poor hand very well and from the standpoint of geopolitical intrigue and real politic, Putin may be the best there is on the global stage at this time.

The Europeans are weak. The Chinese maintain an Empire of Junk dependent on US good will and while Trump is probably the most pro-American president since Reagan, Trump does not negotiate with a nefarious heart, as does Putin.

As discussed already in the preceding comments, Putin's interests are strategic and to the end of advancing Russian interests in the region. He's probably the only national leader of consequence who can pick up the phone and talk to Iranian, Saudi, Syrian, Israeli and American leadership, all in the same morning.

The Americans... wow... America may be in a civil conflict before the rest of the world understands what is going on there. An American civil breakdown would have consequences globally. It's not anything one wishes to consider but in such an event Israel should be prepared to go it alone. And it may be inevitable.

America's pro-Israel Democrats will be, in short order, a thing of the past and neither Nancy Pelosi nor Chuck Schumer understand what has happened to their party. Taleb, AOC, and Omar are a harbinger of things to come. Did you think 40+ years of Political Correctness and historical revisionism wouldn't take a toll? Are you kidding?

Israel needs to reconcile a future where America is no longer a beacon of support and inspiration. America could, under Dem control, actually become an antagonist. And that time may be closer than the Israeli government and the writers at Ynet anticipate.

Arrogant journalists & diplomats saying that "two states" is the only valid policy, doesn't make it so.

America's policy is to sideline PLO terrorists, and facilitate Israeli-Arab cooperation, for the ultimate goal of a regional peace deal that will enable a peaceful U.S. withdrawal.

This is the most benevolent non-imperialist U.S. policy since the 1940's.

I'm putin on mt top hat
Tyin' up my white tie
Brushin' off my tails
I'm dudin' up my shirt front
Putin in the shirt studs
Polishin' my nails
When I step on the gas
For I'll be there
Puttin' down my top hat

Israels interests are different from both, Russia's and USA's.

But, Russia's interests are much closer to Israel than America's - America's interest in Middle East is PETRO-DOLLAR, Business, nothing more.

Russia's interest is genuine, as properly showed in the article above - instability in ME endangers Russia's security, similar as Israel's, and they will do every thing needed to bring peace and stability in the region, which will benefit all nations there.

As faster the US administration will loose it's illusion of being the exceptional nation, which can disregard international laws, as better it will be for the international community.

Israel would be better off if it wouldn't be considered US's closest ally, which is acting in egoistic aggressive manner, lead by narcissistic political elite, which is living in a virtual world of CNN &CO, bar any understanding of the fatal way they led their country in to.

Russia has not only stabilized Syria, defeated the ISIS financed by the West, but has made an end to the century long domination of the Europeans, western civilizations, which have brought progress to the world at the cost of genocides, slavery, wars, Holocaust - the world has enough, it should deal with climate change and other global risks in unity, and not in discourse.

Israels enemy #1 Iran should be engaged by Israel it self, with the help of Russia, finding a way to communicate. Bombing Iran's proxies is not a long term solution, will only endanger the good relations with Russia, which has the most neighboring countries in the world and can not tolerate instabilities around it.

in human rights, economy, imperialistic aspirations, and even a lousy military

Israels interests are different from both, Russia's and USA's.

But, Russia's interests are much closer to Israel than America's - America's interest in Middle East is PETRO-DOLLAR, Business, nothing more.

Russia's interest is genuine, as properly showed in the article above - instability in ME endangers Russia's security, similar as Israel's, and they will do every thing needed to bring peace and stability in the region, which will benefit all nations there.

As faster the US administration will loose it's illusion of being the exceptional nation, which can disregard international laws, as better it will be for the international community.

Israel would be better off if it wouldn't be considered US's closest ally, which is acting in egoistic aggressive manner, lead by narcissistic political elite, which is living in a virtual world of CNN &CO, bar any understanding of the fatal way they led their country in to.

Russia has not only stabilized Syria, defeated the ISIS financed by the West, but has made an end to the century long domination of the Europeans, western civilizations, which have brought progress to the world at the cost of genocides, slavery, wars, Holocaust - the world has enough, it should deal with climate change and other global risks in unity, and not in discourse.

Israels enemy #1 Iran should be engaged by Israel it self, with the help of Russia, finding a way to communicate. Bombing Iran's proxies is not a long term solution, will only endanger the good relations with Russia, which has the most neighboring countries in the world and can not tolerate instabilities around it.