Netanyahu to push for Russia participation in Sobibor memorial project
After Poland initially excludes Russia from Holocaust memorial project taking shape at Sobibor Nazi extermination camp, PM Netanyahu tells Russian Pres. Putin on Wednesday that Israel will make sure Russia allowed to take part in the project; 'We, and I personally, will never forget the historic role that Russia and the Soviet army played in defeating Nazism,' Netanyahu tells Putin.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that Israel will intervene to make sure that Russia is allowed to take part in the Holocaust memorial project taking shape at the Sobibor Nazi extermination camp. This after Poland decided to exclude Russia from a commemoration project
Netanyahu's announcement regarding Sobibor was reported by the Kremlin's official website.
"We, and I personally, will never forget the historic role that Russia and the Soviet army played in defeating Nazism. We say this everywhere, at all venues. We recently declared this in the Israeli Knesset," Netanyahu told Putin during their meeting.
"Israel cannot have objections to Russia’s participation in the important project at former concentration camp Sobibor. The Soviet officer of Jewish origin who led the famous uprising at Sobibor is naturally celebrated as a national hero in Russia and in Israel."
The two leaders also discussed the Iranian threat, will Netanyahu stating that "Iran is increasing its efforts to establish its military foothold in Syria. That is dangerous for Israel, the Middle East and, I believe, the whole world. Iran is already in advanced stages of taking over Iraq and Yemen, and in effect it also controls Lebanon.
"We are all defeating ISIS in a concerted international effort, and that is welcome," continued Netanyahu. "What is not welcome is Iran moving in everywhere ISIS moves out. We do not forget for one minute that Iran continues to threaten Israel's destruction every day; it is arming terrorist organizations and is itself instigating terrorism; and it is developing intercontinental missiles with the goal of arming them with nuclear warheads. For all these reasons, Israel continues to oppose Iran's entrenchment in Syria."
While Putin did not publicly address Netanyahu's remarks about Iran's role in Syria. He did, however, hail what he described as an "efficient mechanism of cooperation" between Russia and Israel.
The meeting between the Israeli and Russian leaders is the ninth to have taken place within the space of two years. Five such meetings have been held in Russia, as part of Israel's efforts to fend off any further threats posed by Iran on its doorstep.
