Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Ministers Ze’ev Elkin and Uri Ariel departed from Israel on Monday 29 Iyar for Mr. Netanyahu’s fourth official state visit in the past year.

The Prime Minister has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin a number of times in connection to the advanced S-300 aerial defense system, seeking to prevent the sale of the Russian-built system to Iran. With the S-300 in Iranian hands, senior Israel Air Force officials have explained an aerial strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities would be complicated somewhat but such a strike would still be possible. Despite Israel’s efforts and US pressure siding with Israel, Putin decided to go through with the sale.

While the trip is short, it is longer than past trips as Mr. Netanyahu is planning to remain in Russia for 2.5 days. The official reason given for the visit is to mark 25 years of relations between the countries. In reality, talks will surround Russia’s role in the ongoing civil war in Syria as well as discussing the matter of pensions for former Russian citizens now living in Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)