PM Netanyahu to Meet Putin in Moscow 5 Days Ahead of Israeli Elections

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The announcement came after the two leaders held a phone call on “regional issues” and also discussed to the so-called de-confliction mechanism devised with a view to avoiding unintended accidents between the countries’ militaries in Syria. However, that Netanyahu will be making a shotgun trip to the Kremlin has raised speculation that either he and Putin disagreed on various aspects relating to Iran’s military entrenchment in Syria; or that the Israeli premier is trying to boost his standing by meeting another high-profile world leader ahead of the April 9 vote. In fact, Netanyahu last week was invited to the White House by President Donald Trump, who signed a declaration officially recognizing Israeli sovereignty over parts of the Golan Heights captured from Syria during the 1967 war. Netanyahu has highlighted his diplomatic successes and overall prowess during the campaign race, and this week hosted in Jerusalem Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who announced the opening of a “trade office” in what Israel considers its undivided capital. Netanyahu last met Putin in February, when they agreed to form a joint task force geared toward removing all foreign forces from Syria.