On the way home: Putin approved Na'ma Issachar's pardon request

After her application was approved by the Pardon Commission and Moscow Governor, the Russian President granted pardon to the Israeli young woman. She will return to Israel together with her mother on the PM, upon his return from the Moscow visit. Did Yaffa tell her this was a moment she had been waiting for almost a year: "All I want is to hug my daughter"

On the way home: Putin approved Na'ma Issachar's pardon request

Naama Issachar on the way home - all updates:

• Putin approved Na'ma Issachar's pardon request
• Yaffe Issachar: "All I want is to hug my daughter"
• Political factor: Naama and her mother will return with Netanyahu from Moscow on the PM's plane

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday approved the pardon request of Naama Issachar, the Israeli young woman serving a prison sentence in his country. This, after the request passed the approval of the Pardon Commission and Moscow Governor.

The decision was made ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the country, which is expected to land tomorrow morning to meet with Putin. Naama, and her beautiful mother Issachar, are expected to return to Israel with him on the Prime Minister's plane. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Putin and said he "expects our meeting tomorrow to discuss the century's deal and the latest developments in the region."

Yaffe Issachar said in response to the decision that "this is a moment I have been waiting for almost a year." The mother, who arrived in Russia ahead of Putin's decision, has been waiting for the long-awaited phone since noon. "I went on a long journey that I don't want anyone to go through. Right now, all I want is to hug my daughter Naama," she shared. She added that "I am shaking, excited and of course thinking of Naama. I do not know if she knows and what she is saying. I want to thank the people of Israel, you and of course the Prime Minister and everyone who acted, and I know that many have acted both here and there."

Naama Issachar on the way home - More in the special report from Moscow:

on the way home. Naama Issachar (Photo: AFP)

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

President Reuben Rivlin thanked President Putin for his compassion and wisdom in his decision to approve the pardon. "Prime Minister Olmert has done all his important work for the release of Naama and congratulations to the entire Issachar family," said President Rivlin.

Earlier today, the mother traveled to the Israeli consulate to deliver hot magazines and clothing items to Naama. "I sincerely thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his political determination and the huge efforts against the Russian government," Yaffe Issachar added. "I would like to thank Russian President Vladimir Putin for showing compassion and responding to my daughter Naama's request to return to Israel."

A government official announced that tomorrow, Yaffe Issachar will be brought to the airport from which the prime minister will take off in his chest from his visit, where she will meet with her daughter Naama, brought by the Russians. At the same time, Netanyahu, returning from his visit to the Kremlin, will meet briefly at the airport, and the two will return to Israel with him on the PM's plane.

A senior Israeli official pardoned Naama Issachar: There was no deal with Russia

Accepted the pardon request. Putin (Photo: Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin during his meeting with the Bavarian Prime Minister at the Kremlin, Moscow, January 29, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed Putin's decision as well as Netanyahu's "vigorous activities," he said, "taking advantage of his close relations with Russian President Putin and the good relations between the countries." Katz, who met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and raised the issue of Issachar's release, thanked Foreign Ministry employees, saying: "I, like all Israeli residents, are delighted with the joy of mother Yaffe and the Issachar family on the return of Naama home."

"There was no deal"

A senior Israeli official involved in promoting pardon claimed earlier today that no deal had been made with Russia, but that it was "President Putin's tribute to Netanyahu." According to the senior Israeli official, "the gestures Israel has taken towards Russia are also intended to tighten ties also in light of other issues between the two countries."

He also made it clear that "the state acted in its case not only because of the mutual guarantee, which is also true for other cases, but with a desire to resolve a case that could hurt the sensitive relationship between Israel and Russia, and in light of the assessment that the state's position on another matter acted negatively."

Will Yaffe Issachar with the Prime Minister and Russian President in Jerusalem, last week (Photo: Ohad Zugenberg)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin Sara Netanyahu and Yaffa Issachar during Prime Minister's Residence Media, Jerusalem, January 23, 2020 (Photo: Ohad Tsuigenberg, official website)

The Kremlin announced yesterday that Putin had accepted Ishkar's pardon request, and that "the necessary legal proceedings are in progress so that the president can make his decision on this issue in the near future." The Israeli young woman's defense team said that "Naama, her family and her lawyers hope that the Russian president, in accordance with his constitutional authority, will quickly adopt a decision on pardon and release." Attorney Alexei Kovalenko said: "We hope the pardon examination will not take long, and the request will be accepted as soon as possible, in the coming days" and expressed hope "that we can see her coming home with her mother and her family."

(Update first: 18:47)