The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin on Thursday warmly welcomed the return of Benjamin Netanyahu as head of the Israeli government, stressing an intention to strengthen cooperation, the Kremlin confirmed.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Israel’s hawkish veteran Netanyahu was sworn in as prime minister Thursday after a stint in opposition, heading what analysts call the most right-wing government in the country’s history.
‘I hope that the new government under your leadership will continue the line of strengthening Russian-Israeli cooperation in all areas for the benefit of our peoples, in the interest of ensuring peace and security in the Middle East,’ Putin said in a message to Netanyahu, quoted in the statement.
‘In Russia, we greatly appreciate your personal and long-standing contribution to strengthening friendly relations between our countries,‘ Putin said.
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After the beginning of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in February, Israel adopted a cautious position towards Moscow, seeking to maintain neutrality.
Israel has particularly emphasised the special ties between the two nations, as Israel has more than a million citizens from the former Soviet Union.
Recall that Putin had recently lambasted the West over what he described as an attempt to ‘tear apart’ Russia and said in an interview aired on national television that his offensive in Ukraine aimed to ‘unite the Russian people’.
While this was happening, the people of Kyiv held Christmas services on Sunday, defying Russian religious authorities who observe it on January 7 and a day after the horrific bombardment in southern Ukraine.
Africa Today News, New York reports that while asserting that Ukrainians and Russians are one people and undermining Kyiv’s sovereignty, Putin has utilised the idea of “historical Russia” to support his 10-month onslaught in Ukraine.
According to him, Russia’s ‘geopolitical opponents’ ‘want to destroy Russia, the ancient Russia.’
‘Divide and conquer, that’s what they have always sought to accomplish and are still seeking to do,” Putin added.
‘But our goal is different: it’s to unite the Russian people,’ he said.
Putin declared his government was acting “in the right direction… protecting our national interests, the interests of our citizens, of our people.