Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will meet today (Friday) for the first time with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at Putin's official residence in the resort city of Sochi, and its main purpose is to establish work and personal trust between the two.
"Russia is a key player in the region and is a kind of neighbor to the north," a diplomat said. "The goal is to strengthen and fortify ties with Putin and Russia. "In front of the Iranian arm in Syria."
Bennett-Putin Summit Schedule, Photo: Getty-Images, GPO, Eric Sultan
The meeting will be held in private and will be attended by Minister Zeev Elkin, in charge of relations with Russia and Ukraine, who will also serve as an interpreter for the two leaders.
Elkin held the same position for former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, knowing the details of the sensitive relationship between the two countries, and enjoying the trust of the Russian president.
Unlike usual in other meetings between heads of state, and in part because of Friday's short schedule, there will be no working meeting between the leadership teams.
The prime minister's main goal is to preserve the intimate and effective relationship that his predecessor developed in office with Putin, which has brought many benefits to Israel.
First and foremost, Bennett will strive to maintain the quiet settlement that allows Israel to continue to act against Iranian targets in Syria without endangering Russian forces and with Putin's quiet consent.
Minister Zeev Elkin.
Will serve as an interpreter for the two leaders, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
There are opponents of Israeli activity in the Russian system, but Putin has so far forced his position and has continued to allow it even since the Bennett-Lapid government began functioning.
The results of the meeting will be examined during the attacks attributed to Israel in the Syrian region.
The Sputnik on the table
Bennett is also expected to raise heavy Israeli concerns about the acceleration of Iran's nuclear program, its regional aggression and its expanding use of suicide drones. Bennett and Putin are expected to express their appreciation for the significant Russian effort to help Israel, at the risk of Russian soldiers, locate Israeli soldiers who have been missing for many years - led by the operation to locate the body and identify Sultan Yaakov Zakaria Baumel.
Centrifuges in Natanz., Photo: EPI
Another issue that is expected to arise is Putin's request that Israel recognize the Russian vaccine Sputnik against the corona.
In a discussion held yesterday by Bennett, Sputnik was not recognized as a vaccine that allows entry into Israel. Sputnik was not recognized as a vaccine that allows entry into Israel, based on the position of the World Health Organization.
Putin and Bennett are expected to look for a formula that will be acceptable to both countries.
One of the possibilities that came up in an earlier discussion held by Bennett this week is that a positive serological test, combined with the Sputnik, would allow foreigners to enter the country.
There may be other creative solutions as well and the two will try to discuss this.
Sputnik vaccines 5. Sputnik has not been recognized as a vaccine that allows entry into Israel, Photo: Reuters
According to the planned schedule, Bennett will return to Israel today, but his entourage is preparing for the possibility that he will have to do the Sabbath in Sochi.
The Russian president is known to be chronically late, and regardless, such meetings have a tendency to lengthen.
Sochi is about a three-hour flight from Israel.
In order not to desecrate the Sabbath, the Prime Minister must take off from the city around 13:00 (Israel time) - a rather tight schedule.
