Israel’s notorious Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Wednesday the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has announced.
According to the Jerusalem Post daily this will be Netanyahu’s fourth visit to Russia in some 16 months a testament to Moscow’s impact on the region as a result of its intense engagement in Syria. In addition to the visits Netanyahu and Putin speak regularly on the phone.
The PMO statement said that the purpose of the regular meetings with Putin is to discuss regional and bilateral issues as well as to prevent any accidental confrontation in Syria’s skies between the Israeli and Russian air forces.
Netanyahu last met with Putin in Moscow in March but they have spoken by phone frequently since then.
The two set the meeting to discuss the latest developments in the region. Netanyahu is also expected to discuss a ceasefire in Syria brokered by Washington and Moscow. Israel has opposed the deal saying it does not properly address Israel’s concerns about Iranian ambitions in the region.
Reaching out to Putin by phone on several other occasions Netnayahu further announced his intent to keep the Golan Heights under Israel’s occupation.
Israel grabbed hold of one third of the Golan Height territories following the 1967 war. In 1981 Israel announced the annexation of the region’s remaining parts sparking strong condemnation by the international community.
