Netanyahu to meet Putin, aiming to keep Iran away from Israel’s border

Netanyahu will again meet with Putin to maintain close coordination and affirm Israel’s strong opposition to an Iranian military presence in Syria, near Israel’s border.  

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on the Black Sea. The two leaders will discuss the latest developments in the region, including the ceasefire in Syria, which Russia is sponsoring.

Israel opposes aspects of the ceasefire because it solidifies Iran’s presence on Israel’s northern border.

“Israel has no objection to a (peace) agreement in Syria, but we are firmly opposed to such an agreement in which Iran and its proxies will be left with a military presence in Syria,” Netanyahu told Putin in May.

Jerusalem and Moscow have established a line of communication to prevent possible clashes between Israeli and Russian air forces in Syria. Netanyahu and Putin met on several occasions over the past year, most recently in Moscow in March. They have since often spoken by phone and continue to do so on a frequent basis.

“In the past two years Prime Minister Netanyahu has met with Russian President Putin every few months in order to discuss bilateral and regional issues and in order to prevent friction between the Israeli and Russian air forces in Syria, so far successfully,” Netanyahu’s office stated Saturday.

By: World Israel News Staff