Israel and Russia are in crisis mode. That's been the running headline since Russia blamed Israel for its downed aircraft over Syria. The situation is tense between the two countries but CGTN's Stephanie Freid says the tension may go beyond Moscow and Jerusalem.

When a Russian Ilyushin aircraft was downed over Syria killing 15 service members, Russia blamed Israel saying its F-16 fighter jets, on a mission in the area, hid behind the aircraft. Claiming innocence, Jerusalem dispatched a military delegation to Moscow to smooth things over. Moscow then shut down Syria's air and sea space and started moving Russian-made S-300 missile defense systems to Syria's government. The moves were interpreted as Moscow's reversal on a policy that has greenlighted Israel's strike campaigns inside Syria for years. Washington is warning against regional escalation. Israel's prime minister expressed remorse over Russia's casualties - twice - reportedly offered to personally travel to Moscow and is now confidently saying teams will meet soon for more smoothing over. He did not, however, back down.

That may be because indicators show Israel can navigate around the S-300 anti-aircraft system. Beyond that, some say this crisis isn't what it appears to be.

ZVI MAGEN FORMER ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA "Israel is not the main goal of this line - I believe the main goal is the West or United States."

Crisis may be a decoy for proxy punishment and for sidestepping tough realities.

ZVI MAGEN FORMER ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA "What will be the future political order in Syria? And who will be the winner? Russians for the time being are not winner. The new crisis helps Russians to push it aside - this specific complex of questions - and to deal now with Israel and the downing of the plane and the relationship."

STEPHANIE FREID TEL AVIV "As Russia shuts down the airspace over Syria and moves S-300s to the country's government, Israel vows to continue striking Iranian targets inside Syria. Analysts close to the situation speculate, it's just a matter of time until the situation normalizes or back to business as usual. STEPHANIE FREID, CGTN, TEL AVIV."