Not so in Moldova, whose vulnerability was exposed in Sunday’s nationwide municipal balloting, seen as a plebiscite on the country’s decision to bid for membership in the European Union and a test-run for next year’s presidential election. For most countries that accuse Russia of interfering in their elections, the issue is both hard to prove and primarily diplomatic: The attempts to manipulate votes constitute serious hostile acts, but Moscow lacks the power to change outcomes. He’s been working with Russia ever since to unseat the nation’s pro-European government. If Israel wants to signal the Kremlin that its support for Hamas has consequences, it holds a ready tool: Extradite Ilan Shor, the businessman-cum-politician who fled Moldova while appealing his conviction in a $1 billion bank-fraud case.
