Shoigu to visit Israel 'soon': Paper
Oct 15, 2017 07:24AM
PressTV
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (2nd L) and Israel's Avigdor Liberman (2nd R) hold talks in Moscow in April 2017.
Russia’s defense minister is to travel to Israel soon, with Iran and Syria expected to take center stage in talks between the two sides, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz reports.
Sergei Shoigu would be visiting later in the week to meet with Israeli minister for military affairs Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the report said on Sunday.
During the stay, Tel Aviv is to convey its concerns to Moscow about increasing Iranian “strength” in Syria, the paper added.
Iran has been providing Syria’s Army with military advisory support, and Russia has been lending it air power, both at Damascus’ request, in the face of foreign-backed terrorists
Israel, on the other hand, has been supporting militants fighting to topple the Syrian government. Tel Aviv offers medical treatment to Takfiri terrorists entering Syria’s Golan Heights, which Tel Aviv has occupied since 1967. It also regularly attacks the Syrian soil, targeting convoys carrying supplies for groups allied to the Damascus government.
Ha'aretz said Shoigu and Lieberman were to discuss closer coordination in Syria, having previously met on many occasions “to prevent unnecessary friction, especially in the air and at sea.”
Russia has repeatedly protested to Israeli airstrikes in Syria. In September, Ha'aretz said Russia had rejected an Israeli demand to create a “buffer zone” in Syria where forces allied to the Syrian government would be prohibited from entering.
Netanyahu traveled to Russia late August to discuss with President Vladimir Putin his “concerns” about Iran’s perceived influence in Syria.
According to a Russia Today report back then, Netanyahu was told that Moscow, “which views Iran as key to resolving the [Syria] crisis,” would “note Israeli interests,” in what likely amounted to a diplomatic dismissal of the Israeli claims.
“Iran is Russia’s strategic ally in the Middle East,” Putin reportedly told Netanyahu.
Witnesses present during the meeting said that following Netanyahu's entreaties to the Russian leader, Putin sighed and told the Israeli premier that his government would be unable to assist.
"Unfortunately, we cannot help you here,” Putin reportedly said.
On Sunday, Ha'aretz said Shoigu had been expected to visit Israel for some time but the timing of the upcoming trip bore significance in view of US President Donald Trump’s incendiary remarks against Iran on Friday night.
The remarks were only welcomed by Netanyahu, Saudi leaders as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, while others denounced them as dangerous.
PressTV-Trump in no position to end Iran’s nuclear deal: EU
Later on Friday, when Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz was asked if Trump's speech could bring a war, he said, "Absolutely, yes."
"I think that the speech was very significant. The speech (was) based on an existing agreement but with very clear statements regarding the future," he answered.
- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (2nd L) and Israel's Avigdor Liberman (2nd R) hold talks in Moscow in April 2017.
Russia’s defense minister is to travel to Israel soon, with Iran and Syria expected to take center stage in talks between the two sides, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz reports.
Sergei Shoigu would be visiting later in the week to meet with Israeli minister for military affairs Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the report said on Sunday.
During the stay, Tel Aviv is to convey its concerns to Moscow about increasing Iranian “strength” in Syria, the paper added.
Iran has been providing Syria’s Army with military advisory support, and Russia has been lending it air power, both at Damascus’ request, in the face of foreign-backed terrorists
Israel, on the other hand, has been supporting militants fighting to topple the Syrian government. Tel Aviv offers medical treatment to Takfiri terrorists entering Syria’s Golan Heights, which Tel Aviv has occupied since 1967. It also regularly attacks the Syrian soil, targeting convoys carrying supplies for groups allied to the Damascus government.
Ha'aretz said Shoigu and Lieberman were to discuss closer coordination in Syria, having previously met on many occasions “to prevent unnecessary friction, especially in the air and at sea.”
Russia has repeatedly protested to Israeli airstrikes in Syria. In September, Ha'aretz said Russia had rejected an Israeli demand to create a “buffer zone” in Syria where forces allied to the Syrian government would be prohibited from entering.
Netanyahu traveled to Russia late August to discuss with President Vladimir Putin his “concerns” about Iran’s perceived influence in Syria.
According to a Russia Today report back then, Netanyahu was told that Moscow, “which views Iran as key to resolving the [Syria] crisis,” would “note Israeli interests,” in what likely amounted to a diplomatic dismissal of the Israeli claims.
“Iran is Russia’s strategic ally in the Middle East,” Putin reportedly told Netanyahu.
Witnesses present during the meeting said that following Netanyahu's entreaties to the Russian leader, Putin sighed and told the Israeli premier that his government would be unable to assist.
"Unfortunately, we cannot help you here,” Putin reportedly said.
On Sunday, Ha'aretz said Shoigu had been expected to visit Israel for some time but the timing of the upcoming trip bore significance in view of US President Donald Trump’s incendiary remarks against Iran on Friday night.
The remarks were only welcomed by Netanyahu, Saudi leaders as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, while others denounced them as dangerous.
PressTV-Trump in no position to end Iran’s nuclear deal: EU
Later on Friday, when Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz was asked if Trump's speech could bring a war, he said, "Absolutely, yes."
"I think that the speech was very significant. The speech (was) based on an existing agreement but with very clear statements regarding the future," he answered.
