MembersANALYSIS: How Bennett’s Meeting with Putin Affects Israel and the Region

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, where they discussed the Iranian nuclear program and the situation in Syria.  Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described the meeting as “excellent,” stressing on his Facebook page that it lasted over five hours and was “particularly in-depth.”

According to the Prime Minister, “Relations between Israel and Russia rely on a rich past of relations between the two peoples.   We always remember the crucial role of the Russians in the defeat of Nazism during World War II.   This historical memory must not be erased and must be passed down from generation to generation.”

Likewise, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Russian-Israeli ties as “unique,” emphasizing: “the very deep connection between our people.”   The question remains, how did the recent meeting between Bennett and Putin affect Israel’s freedom to operate in Syria?

According to Al Jazeera, Putin stressed that Russia has been making great strides to restore Assad’s sovereignty since the Civil War erupted there and there is “common ground and opportunities for cooperation” with...