The Jerusalem Post – by Herb Keinon
“They went there and discussed in dealt the coordination between our armies on a number of issues that have been on the agenda,” Netanyahu said. “That is important because we must preserve the freedom of action of the IDF and the air force in areas that are important for our security. And I think that was achieved.”
Netanyahu was referring to the downing last year by Turkey of a Russian plane, something that sent relations between Moscow and Ankara spiraling downward. This was Netanyahu’s third meeting with Putin since September, an indication of the close coordination that is taking place between the two countries as a result of Moscow’s involvement in Syria. The premier said hewill return to Moscow for another visit in June.
During that visit, marking 25 years to the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Netanyahu said he will sign a long sought after agreement with Moscow to paypension to immigrants in Israel from the Former Soviet Union.
Also during the meeting alongside Putin, Netanyahu repeated Thursday what he said on theGolan Heights on Sunday: the strategic plateau will always remain part of Israel.
Netanyahu, who flew for the day to Moscow for a meeting with Putin, said during statements in the Kremlin beforehand that “we we cannot return to the days and times when our villages were shot at from the Golan Heights, therefore, whether within the framework of an agreement or without one, the Golan Heights will remain part of [Israeli] sovereign territory.”
Netanyahu said earlier this week that his comments about the Golan Heights were necessary following a draft for a Syrian peace agreement circulated by the UN special envoy which called, in its very first clause, for Israel to return the Golan to Syria. The premier said that he had come to Moscow with one central goal: “to strengthen the security coordination between us to prevent mistakes, misunderstandings and unnecessary accidents” between Israeli and Russian forces operating in Syria.
On his last visit to Moscow in September, Netanyahu and Putin established a coordination mechanism to ensure that the Russian and Israeli air forces do not accidentally engage one another in Syrian airspace. In addition to that meeting, the two leaders met at the end of November on the sidelines of the Paris climate conference.
“During our last meeting I presented to you our security policy regarding our northern border,” Netanyahu said.
“Israel has clear red lines for our self defense,” he said. “First of all, we are acting to the best of our ability to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry from Iran and Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Secondly, we are working to prevent the establishment of an additional terrorist front against us from the Golan Heights. These are our red lines, and we will continue to protect them.”
Netanyahu said the talks will also touch on bilateral issues, as Israel and Russia are this year marking 25 years since the re-establishment of full diplomatic ties. The premier pointed out that there are now more than a million native Russian speakers living in Israel who are a “living bridge between our two peoples.”
And that is how you legalize theft. You claim return of the stolen property a red line you will go send every slave under your control to war for.