DEBKAfile
May 15, 2013
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spent three hours with
Russian President Vladimir Putin at his residence in the Black Sea
resort of Sochi, Tuesday, May, 14. He came for a last-ditch attempt to
head off the supply of advanced Russian anti-air S-300 missile systems
to Syria. Instead, the Russian leader turned the conversation around to
focus implicitly on Israel’s air strikes against Damascus on May 3 and
May 5.
After their conversation he issued a warning: ”In this crucial
period it is especially important to avoid any moves that can shake the
situation.”
This was clearly a hands-off caution to Israel not to repeat its
attacks on Damascus. And, furthermore, after “shaking the situation” in
Syria by its air attacks, Israel was in no position to demand that
Russia avoid selling Syria advanced weapons.
The prime minister, for his part, warned that the entire Middle East was in a dangerous state of volatility.
He was accompanied by Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen.
Aviv Kochavi. Opposite him sat Mikhail Fradkov, SVR Director.
Kochavi laid before the Russian leader the information Israel had
gathered on the state of Syria’s chemical weapons with relevance to
their transfer to the Lebanese Hizballah.
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