RABBI LAZAR ON SYNAGOGUE ATTACK, IMPORTANCE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 000387

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PREL PINR RS
SUBJECT: RABBI LAZAR ON SYNAGOGUE ATTACK, IMPORTANCE OF
TOLERANCE PROGRAMS

REF: MOSCOW 00262

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns. Reason: 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a January 17 meeting with the Ambassador,
Berl Lazar, one of the leaders of Russia's Jewish community,
said that though concerns about extremism in the country had
been mounting, the January 11 synagogue attack had been a
"wake-up call." He said the incident offered opportunities
for the U.S. to offer the Russians cooperation and thus
strengthen U.S.-Russian ties. Above all, he described plans
for the Jewish community to build a museum in Moscow
dedicated to promoting tolerance and suggested the USG could
help in that effort. Though the details of Lazar's proposals
remain unclear, his push for bilateral cooperation in
fighting extremism warrants our attention. END SUMMARY.
.
WAKE-UP CALL
--------------


2. (C) Rabbi Berl Lazar, one of two claimants to the title of
Chief Rabbi of Russia, began the January 17 meeting by
expressing appreciation for the Ambassador's January 13 visit
to the synagogue where the attack had occurred, saying that
that visit had sent a strong message to the GOR, Russia's
Jewish community and others. Noting that he would continue
to stress to senior GOR officials the importance of combating
extremism in Russia, the Ambassador praised Lazar's public
comments, made in the aftermath of the attack, about the
growing extremist threat in the country.


3. (C) Although he had long been aware that extremism was a
growing threat in Russia, Lazar said that the synagogue
attack had nonetheless been a wake-up call. While he had
condemned extremist attacks in the past, Lazar said that the
extent of the problem had only now become apparent to him.
The Jewish community was also scared, Lazar continued, noting
that many of its members had told psychiatrists of their
fears in meetings arranged by his synagogue following the
attack. He also had spoken to Russia's chief Mufti, who
reported that the Muslim community was also deeply worried.
In addition to his public statements, Lazar had met over the
past days with State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov and others to
underscore his concern. His interlocutors had gotten the
message, Lazar insisted.


4. (C) President Putin was also concerned, Lazar said. Putin
favored tolerance and religious freedom, although his ability
to promote it was limited by the political influence of the
Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). In Lazar's view, Putin was
frustrated by excessive ROC influence and would be willing to
do more.
.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COOPERATION
--------------


5. (C) The synagogue attack had created an opportunity to
foster U.S.-Russian cooperation in the fight against
extremism, a non-political issue where the GOR might be
responsive, Lazar continued. Saying that he would meet with
President Putin within the next two weeks, Lazar said he
would focus on two proposals:

-- Given that the synagogue attacker had reportedly been
influenced in part by extremist Internet sites, Lazar said
that dealing with promoting hatred over the Internet was an
area of potential cooperation. The U.S. was grappling with
similar problems, and offering to share experiences might be
welcomed by the GOR.

-- Lazar also said he was developing a museum or center
designed to combat extremism, along the lines of the
Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. The Moscow city
government had already provided a site in Moscow worth some
USD 15 million for the project, and Putin had expressed
support. The Jewish community would lead in this effort, but
the museum would address all forms of extremism, not just
anti-Semitism, Lazar said. German Chancellor Merkel had
reacted positively when Lazar had met her during her recent
visit, he reported. Lazar asked the Ambassador for support
in the effort.


6. (C) Emphasizing the importance of seizing the moment, the
Ambassador praised Lazar's desire to foster new initiatives.
Extremism was an international phenomenon, the Ambassador
stressed, and the Kremlin should not feel threatened by the
possibility of cooperating in combating it. The Ambassador
noted that the USG already had tolerance programs in Russia,
and added that new initiatives were likely to be most well
received if the Kremlin saw itself as playing a leading role.

MOSCOW 00000387 002 OF 002


Reiterating his interest in pursuing the effort, the
Ambassador asked that Lazar keep him posted about progress on
the initiatives, including Putin's reactions to them.
.
COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) Lazar has long been criticized as downplaying the
extent of xenophobia in Russia. Judging by his public
statements, as well as his remarks to the Ambassador, Lazar
now sees the issue differently and will be more outspoken.
Despite his recent comments, Lazar will likely retain the
good contacts he has long enjoyed in the Kremlin, and he
appears well placed to pursue his initiatives. We believe
they may be worth supporting, at least to some extent, in
order both to help combat Russia's growing extremism and
potentially to expand USG cooperation with the Russians.
BURNS