Netanyahu raises Israeli jailed in Russia during Putin call

Conversation raises much optimism ahead of Russian president's visit to Israel next week; mother of Naama Issachar, jailed for 7.5 years for possessing cannabis on Moscow stopover, says no plans for disruption during visit
Itamar Eichner, Attila Somfalvi, Alexandra Lukash|
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke Thursday about recent regional developments and the case of Naama Issachar, an Israeli woman jailed in Russia for cannabis possession, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter
  • "The conversation was warm and to the point and strengthened Netanyahu's optimism that the issue of the release of Naama Issachar is advancing towards a solution," the statement read.
    3 View gallery
     נעמה יששכר
     נעמה יששכר
    Naama Issachar
    (Photo: AP)
    The 26-year-old was arrested in April while in transit at a Moscow airport, en route from India to Israel, and accused of carrying 9.5 grams of cannabis.
    Russian authorities charged her with drug smuggling and she was sentenced to to seven and a half years in jail by a court in Moscow last October.
    Putin is scheduled to arrive on a one-day trip to Israel, during which he will participate in the Fifth World Holocaust Forum at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem on January 23, and inaugurate a monument in memory of the victims of the siege of Leningrad at the Sacher Garden in Jerusalem.
    Putin will also meet separately with President Reuven Rivlin and Netanyahu .
    3 View gallery
    ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו פגישה עם נשיא רוסיה ולדימיר פוטין ב סוצ'י
    ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו פגישה עם נשיא רוסיה ולדימיר פוטין ב סוצ'י
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin
    (Photo: MCT)
    Putin cut his visit to Israel short to one day due to the recent resignation of the Russian government, but some believe that fears for demonstrations and provocations by activists pushing for Issachar's release might have played a part in the decision as well.
    Issachar's mother, Yaffa, said that Netanyahu spoke to her after his conversation with Putin and told her to remain strong and optimistic.
    3 View gallery
    יפה יששכר מחוץ לבית המשפט במוסקבה
    יפה יששכר מחוץ לבית המשפט במוסקבה
    Naama Issachar's mother, Yaffa
    (Photo: Noa Lavie)
    "The prime minister told me that it is my responsibility to maintain Naama's mental toughness as long as she is Russian jail while remaining strong and optimistic, because the prime minister of Israel is obligated to release Naama," Issachar told Ynet.
    "I am optimistic and ask with all my heart from the Russian president to act like a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people and the leader of a world power – and release my Naama home to Israel."
    Issachar also said that the family and activists do not intend on provoking Putin during his visit to Israel.
    "I wasn't planning [to provoke Putin] in the first place and believed that Putin will release her [Naama] before his arrival," said Issachar.
    "The activists do want to do something, but no decision has been made yet. I hope Putin arrives with a promise. If he doesn't release her - I believe he'll come with a message to Israel anyway."
    Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov said Tuesday that his country is not looking into a possible prisoner exchange deal since Issachar has been convicted of criminal offenses.
    He referred to Issachar's complaints to the European Court of Justice and told the Russian news agency TSS that "this is her lawyers' work. We cannot advise her on the matter. That is her right.”
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""