Israel’s Bennett And Russia’s Putin Speak, Agree To Meet!

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s new prime minister talked with his Russian counterpart for the first time on Monday, and the two have promised to meet shortly, according to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office.

Bennett’s office said he praised Putin for Russia’s commitment to regional stability and that the two discussed the bridge that Russian immigration to Israel represents between the two countries. In approximately the last three decades, over one million Jews from the former Soviet Union have immigrated to Israel.

Earlier this year, Russian mediators assisted in the release of an Israeli lady who had infiltrated Syria in exchange for the release of two Syrians imprisoned by Israel. Bennett praised Putin for his “help on the problem of the hostages and the missing,” according to Bennett.

It was the first time the two had spoken since Bennett assumed leadership of Israel’s new coalition government last month. Bennett will resign down after two years, and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will take over as Prime Minister.