Medvedev to visit Israel this week

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will visit Israel during this week.

“Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will visit Israel. These negotiations are a sign of ongoing boost of bilateral ties with Russia”, Netanyahu’s spokesperson Ofir Gendelman quoted him during the Cabinet’s weekly session.

Israel has intensified its communication with Russia since the launch of the Russian military campaign in Syria; in addition, the two countries formed a joint military group last September to coordinate their activities in Syria.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 2 TV, Medvedev expressed Russia’s intention to resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

On another note, Netanyahu told his weekly cabinet meeting he expects the “United States will remain true to its commitment for many years that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be resolved through direct negotiations without pre-conditions, and of course not through decisions by the United Nations of other international bodies”.

“Whoever wins this week’s election in the US, I am sure that the strong and stable relations with Israel will not only remain as such, but will be strengthened”, he added.