Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to let Israeli aircrafts fly freely in Syrian and Lebanese skies, Arab48.com reported.
The Israeli Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze’ev Elkin, who was Netanyahu’s translator and attended a Tuesday meeting, said that Netanyahu and Putin have a “credible” relationship, noting that Netanyahu is “using” it.
Elkin said that there is “no contradiction” between Netanyahu’s relations with Putin and his relations with the US President Barak Obama.
Regarding the security cooperation between the Russian and Israeli armies, Elkin said that Russia runs the forces in Syria, not the United States.
He said: “Therefore, if we wanted free aviation for our aerial forces in Lebanon and Syria and if we wanted to maintain the security and political interests of Israeli citizens, the Russians are our target.”
Putin, Netanyahu to discuss bilateral ties, situation in Syria
Netanyahu started a three-day visit to Moscow on Monday. It is his fourth and longest visit to the capital since the start of 2016.
Netanyahu’s visit to Moscow comes on the occasion on the 25th anniversary since the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Kremlin press service said.
The Kremlin press service said the two men were going to have a detailed exchange of opinion on the Middle East regional issues, with special emphasis on the struggle with international terrorism.
“They will also discuss various regional issues including the global fight against terrorism, the situation in and around Syria and the diplomatic horizon between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as bilateral economic and trade cooperation and the strengthening of cultural and humanitarian ties,” Netanyahu’s Office said in a statement.
The two leaders will discuss efforts to maintain the Syrian ceasefire brokered by Washington and Moscow in February. The two leaders will also touch base on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, in addition to Israeli-Russian trade cooperation and cultural ties.
