On the way to calm the tensions? The conciliatory voices from Jerusalem and Moscow:
public exchange of messages between the Kremlin and Prime Minister Lapid's office, against the backdrop of political tensions with Russia.
President Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, addressed the agency crisis for the first time today (Tuesday), saying: "There is no need to politicize this situation and project it onto the whole of Israel-Russia relations. It is essential to take a cautious approach, but also to understand that all organizations active in Russia must obey the law The Russian".
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In response, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement that seems to seek to lower the level of the flames between the countries: "Israel-Russia relations are based on heritage, a continuous connection and mutual interests. The place of the Jewish community in these relations is central. If indeed there are legal issues that arise in relation to its important activity of the Jewish Agency in Russia, Israel, as always, is ready and invited to hold a dialogue on this while maintaining the important relations between the countries."
Earlier today, another spokeswoman for the Kremlin, Maria Zakrova, spoke out more harshly against Israel: "Unfortunately, in recent months we have heard statements at the statement level that are completely unconstructive and most importantly - biased rhetoric from Tel Aviv. It was completely incomprehensible and strange to us," said Zakrova on Russian TV.
It should be noted that the speaker used the name of Tel Aviv, and not Jerusalem, to refer to Israel.
This is despite the fact that the practice is to indicate the capital city of the country in such statements, or simply the name of the country.
An attempt to solve the crisis.
Herzog and Putin, photo: Oren Ben Hakon, I.F.P., I.P.I
This morning President Yitzhak Herzog rallied to the efforts to bring to an end the crisis threatening the continuation of the activities of the Jewish Agency in Russia.
The president asked to keep a low profile, saying: "The less we talk - the better handling of the issue will be possible."
On Thursday, a preliminary hearing on the Russian Ministry of Justice's request to ban the agency's activities in the country is scheduled to take place in the Moscow court.
According to the ministry, the agency illegally collects information about Russian citizens.
In Israel they claim that it is all about contact details such as phone numbers and email addresses of applicants for aliyah and of Jews who wish to participate in the agency's activities.
The judge will have to decide if there is enough evidence to open a trial, or alternatively reject the Ministry of Justice's request and close the case.
However, the working assumption in Israel is that the decision on the issue will be made at the top political levels in Moscow, who will guide the court in advance.
An Israeli delegation of jurists and diplomats, which was supposed to leave for Russia on Sunday to discuss the crisis, has not yet received visas and is currently staying in the country.
This fact arouses pessimism in Jerusalem regarding the results of the court hearing on Thursday.
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