The second day of the Holocaust Forum: Putin and Pence landed in Israel

The Russian president has come to visit on security issues, but at the center of the event will be Naama Issachar, who is serving a prison sentence in his country. "Israel honors the heroism of the Russian people in the war," Foreign Minister Katz told Putin upon landing. The US Vice President also came for a short visit. Later today: The Holocaust Forum will meet in Yad Vashem

Live broadcast from Rivlin and Prince Charles' meeting at President's house (Photo: Ronnie Wanfu)

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed this morning (Wednesday) in Israel on the occasion of the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem and opened his visit to a political meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Shortly before, United States Vice President Mike Pence also landed a one-day visit. The two are expected to speak at the main event of the International Holocaust Forum to be held at Yad Vashem in the afternoon. Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed Putin and Pence's faces at Ben Gurion Airport.

Katz told Putin that "in Israel, the Russian people's heroism is fought in the war and the overwhelming parts of the Red Army in the defeat of Nazi Germany and the liberation of the death camps, including Ashwitz." Katz also said that "Your visit to Israel will contribute to strengthening the friendship between Russia and Israel and will allow us to deepen our diverse ties and discuss the security challenges facing Israel again."

From there, Putin went on to meet with Netanyahu at the Prime Minister's Residence, to which he is also expected to join Yafa Issachar, Naama Issachar's mother, and update her on contacts to grant amnesty. At the opening of the meeting, Netanyahu told Putin that "I would like to welcome our great friend the Russian President here in Jerusalem and thank you for the strong connection between Russia and Israel that serves our peoples and peace and stability in the region." The Russian president wanted to acknowledge the invitation to Israel, saying that "We work regularly with the prime minister. I am sure that this will help advance our relationship. Today we are reminiscent of Holocaust victims. I want to thank the Prime Minister and his wife again for the invitation to visit Israel."

At the meeting, Netanyahu and Putin are also expected to discuss strategic and security issues, most notably the Iranian threat, Iran's fear of a nuclear weapon, and the Israeli campaign against Iranian consolidation in an area that requires sensitive and close security coordination, given the prominent military presence of the Russian military. Later in the day Pence will meet with the Prime Minister and visit him at the Western Wall.

More about the International Holocaust Forum:

Optimism in Jerusalem regarding his visit. Putin arrives in Israel (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at Ben Gurion airport on January 23, 2020 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

The Vice President will speak at the keynote ceremony and will meet with Netanyahu. Lantern at Ben Gurion Airport (Photo: Reuters)

US Vice President Mike Pence at Ben Gurion Airport January 23, 2020 (Photo: Airports Authority, Official Website)

President Reuben Rivlin continues the round of meetings with the leaders participating in the International Holocaust Forum. Rivlin met with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this morning. "Our relationship is ever stronger," President Leflus said. "Our deep relationship is independent of political positions and relies on a deep internal connection between the Israeli people and the American people." Criminal law in The Hague said that the State of Israel must protect itself as it is its right, he added: "The State of Israel is a democratic state that knows how to investigate itself."

After criticizing that out of some 700 seats allocated for the central ceremony to be held at noon, only 30 Holocaust survivors were invited. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zalansky said that the Ukrainian delegation would transfer the places assigned to it for the survivors. "We realized that many survivors could not attend the International Holocaust Forum event. Our delegation passed them the seats, as many Israeli ministers did," Zalanski wrote on Twitter. "These people deserve more respect than anyone else. We will attend all the meetings and events that are set."

"In Israel, the valor of the Russian people is honored in the war." Putin alongside Israel Katz upon landing

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at Ben Gurion airport January 23, 2020 (Photo: official website)

Israel is a Democratic State that Knows to Investigate Itself. "Rivlin and Pelosi (Photo: Mark Neiman / GPO)

State President Robbie Rivlin Meeting with US Rep. Nancy Pelosi at President's House January 23, 2020 (Photo: Mark Neiman / GPO, official website)

Tweet by the President of Ukraine

Yishker's pardon request will be at the center of public attention during Putin's stay in Israel, with recent optimism in Jerusalem announcing that he will respond to Yishker's pardon request or consent to her being sentenced to continue serving her sentence in Israel, with President Rivlin granting her a pardon. In preparation for the visit and during the talks on Issachar's case, Israel agreed to a package of tributes to Putin, most notably agreeing to transfer control of the Russian Church's real estate assets in Jerusalem. These are the demands the Kremlin has made to Jerusalem for years, but so far they have refused.

Minister Ze'ev Elkin, who heads a joint intergovernmental committee for Israel and Russia, in recent months led an inter-ministerial team that dealt with the issue and yesterday updated the members of the Russian delegation in recent steps and decisions regarding the Russian church's assets in Israel and their management, including transfer of ownership of the estate to the court yard Old Jerusalem and other procedural eases for additional properties in Jerusalem. In addition, Elkin yesterday signed with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister an adoption agreement governing all the adoption relations between the states, an agreement that lasted about a decade and was recently completed, and the parties also discussed advancing understandings between Israel and Russia regarding easing visas for entry into Israel in the background of ongoing tensions High delays and refusals of Russian citizens.

Be the center of attention of the visit. Naama Issachar in Moscow (Photo: AFP)

Naama Issachar at a Moscow court hearing, Russia, December 19, 2019 (Photo: AFP, GettyImages)

Following the meeting with Netanyahu, Putin is expected to meet with State President Reuven Rivlin, and the three leaders will jointly inaugurate a new monument in Jerusalem's Sacher Garden in memory of those killed by Leningrad. This is the second memorial that Putin has been inaugurating in Israel, following the Victory Memorial established in Netanya in 2012, as part of the Kremlin's ongoing and intensive effort to shape the historic memory of World War II, and to commemorate the crucial contribution of victory over Nazi Germany. The 8.5-meter-high memorial is made of copper and bronze and represents a candle flame, known as the Memorial Candle Monument.

Yaffe Issachar for Putin's arrival: "Looking forward to good news"

Putin's plane lands at Ben Gurion Airport today (Photo: Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin's plane arrives at Ben Gurion airport on January 23, 2020 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Some 600 invited guests are expected to attend the ceremony, including veterans who participated in World War II and survivors of the siege of Leningrad, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon, Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Bigelov, as well as senior members of the Jewish community in Russia. In addition, they will attend the ceremony of businessmen Michael Mirilshvili, a Channel 20 owner, Victor and Kelsberg, a Russian oligarch close to President Putin as well as President Trump, who helped fund the monument along with the JNF, Keren Hayesod, and the City of St. Petersburg and Jerusalem.

At noon, Putin is expected to make a speech but is at the World Holocaust Forum to be convened in Yad Vashem, which marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as one of the representatives of the superpowers who took part in the victory over Nazi Germany. During the day, he is also expected to travel to Bethlehem and meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen.

(First update: 6 p.m.)

Info Leadership Schedule Jerusalem Holocaust (Photo: Image processing)

Police forces secure the arrival of the leaders in Ben Gurion Airport today (Photo: Israel Police)

Police activity this morning from the ground and the air ahead of the International Holocaust Forum in Yad Vashem January 23, 2020 (Photo: Israel Police spokeswoman)

Police forces secure the arrival of the leaders in Ben Gurion Airport today (Photo: Israel Police)

Police and Border Police activity in the framework of World Holocaust Forum events, January 22, 2020 (Photo: Israel Police spokeswoman)

Police forces secure the arrival of the leaders in Ben Gurion Airport today (Photo: Israel Police)

Police activity this morning from the ground and the air ahead of the International Holocaust Forum in Yad Vashem January 23, 2020 (Photo: Israel Police spokeswoman)