Contemporary Russia Israeli relations which started after the collapse of the USSR are experiencing its most positive stage. Russia and Israel managed to build and develop very strong relations despite pressure coming from the US and its other allies. Russia’s involvement into all important regional conflicts and processes (Syria, Israeli-Palestinian, Iran nuclear dossier, Libya, etc.) makes it and indispensable partner for Israel and often useful interlocutor. Given the fact that Russia keeps and develops positive relations with all regional actors positions it uniquely and makes it an attractive partner. This research project has three main goals: Examine reasons of the rise of Russia-Israeli relations; Analyze how the changing regional environment affected bilateral ties; Assess challenges and risks for the further development of Russia-Israeli relations. Strategy The project is intended to be policy and academic oriented. It deals with the following issues: Evolution of Russia’s Middle East policy: Moscow becomes a power broker in the region; Russia talks with everyone: maintains working ties with all actors; Russia’s increasing role in the Middle East; Risks and challenges for Russia-Israeli relations: Russia-Iran regional cooperation; Russia-Syria-Iran triangle; US Middle East policy; US-Israeli strategic partnership. The hypothesis of the proposed paper is that Russia-Israeli relations in the region are defined by the nature of their national interests and their understanding of each other. Israel understands and acknowledges Russian role in the region as a stabilizing factor. Moreover, both countries value each other’s ability to be “messengers”/brokers (Russia for Israel communicating with Iran, Hezbollah, etc. and Israel for Russia communicating with the US). That said, the two countries have fair amount of limitations, one of which US policy in the region and US-Israeli alliance. Significance Results of the project might be used for: Understanding the nature of Russia-Israeli relations; Realization of limits and opportunities for Russia-Israeli ties; Create new criteria for analyses of bilateral relations. Primary beneficiaries of the proposed project are foreign policy analysts and policy-makers, NGOs, Russian and foreign institutions, scholars, students. Methodology By methodology we understand those tools and instruments which are required for fulfilling the project. To make project more balanced, the wide range of sources (primary and secondary) will be used: archive materials, analytical articles, interviews with experts and government officials, statistical data, and official documents. Realist paradigm will be utilized as a primary methodological framework for the analysis.