In his first visit to Russia as prime minister, Naftali Bennett said Friday he and President Vladimir Putin are planning to discuss ways to curb Iran’s nuclear program and Syria.
Speaking at a press joint conference with Putin, Bennett said he expects “to discuss current events, as well as the fields of technology, science and culture.
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“We’ll also discuss strengthening our economic relations. As the president said, we can significantly increase the trade between us, and we must do so. We’ll talk about the situation in Syria, and the efforts to stop the Iranian military nuclear program, Bennett said.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss a number of security issues, including Israel’s fears over Iran’s strengthening in Syria, the campaign against the Iranian nuclear program – which Bennet will attempt to enlist Putin in – and Russian officials’ fears over uncoordinated Israeli attacks in Syria.
Bennett and Putin in Sochi, today.Kobe Gideon / GPO
Bennett and Putin will also touch on renewing tourism between the two countries. Bennett was planning to tell Putin that Israel will to allow Russian tourists who have been vaccinated with the Russian vaccine Sputnik V into Israel in the next two months, although the vaccine is not recognized by the World Health Organization.
On Thursday, However, Bennett said he wanted to reconsider the move, potentially postponing entry to December 1, due to the eruption of the new variant.
A senior official said that “the trip’s main purpose is to establish a close relationship between Bennett and Putin and to show that the change of government in Israel hasn’t caused any damage to the ties and cooperation between the countries.”
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This is Bennett’s second visit to a foreign leader, following his trip to the White House in August to get to know U.S. President Joe Biden and strengthen ties with him. “On the trip to the United States Bennett needed to mend the relations with Biden and the leaders of the Democratic Party, which had been damaged during Netanyahu’s term. On the trip to Russia Bennett must mainly not spoil them. He must see to the continuation of the good relationship with the current administration,” an official said.
Bennett and Putin are expected to meet for a two-hour private meeting and will only be joined by Minister Zeev Elkin and a Russian translator. This is unusual for Putin, and Israeli officials see it as a sign that the president wants to communicate directly with Bennett.
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