Putin to hold talks with visiting Israeli PM on Thursday

MOSCOW, April 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is arriving in Moscow on a brief working visit on Thursday. "Pressing issues of bilateral cooperation in aspects of priority are expected to be the focus of the talks. Besides, (Putin and Netanyahu) will exchange opinions on topical issues of regional and global agenda, first the Palestine-Israel crisis and prospects for its settlement along with the Syria crisis," the Kremlin press service said. Earlier in the week, Putin held talks with Palestine leader Mahmoud Abbas, focusing on the Middle East crisis. History of talks Since 2000, Israeli prime ministers have paid 12 visits to Russia, with six made by the current head of state. Netanyahu’s last visit to the Russian capital took place on 21 September 2015, when he and Putin discussed the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group banned in Russia. Within the format of the visit, Chief of the Israeli Defense Forces’ General Staff Gadi Eisenkot had a first ever meeting with his Russian counterpart Valery Gerasimov, reaching an agreement to create a mechanism for avoiding any possible incidents between Russian and Israeli forces in Syria. On November 30, 2015, Putin and Netanyahu met on the margins of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris. In March receiving in the Kremlin Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin, the Russian leader said that the two countries’ relationship was built on the foundation of friendship, mutual understanding and years-old joint history. Putin’s day Moreover, a gala ceremony for Russian officers promoted to senior positions will be held in the Kremlin. "The head of state traditionally congratulates servicemen and prosecution workers on their promotions," the Kremlin press service said, noting that he "will define tasks set for top brass of the Armed Forces and special services." Read more