In Moscow, Israel PM pushes Putin on Syria, Iran concerns

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Thursday over fears the Kremlin's involvement in Syria and weapons deliveries to Iran could bolster the Jewish state's fiercest opponents.

"Israel has obvious and evident red lines connected to our security," Netanyahu told Putin at the start of the meeting.

"Firstly, we are doing everything that depends on us to stop the most hi-tech weaponry from Syria and Iran from falling into the hands of Hezbollah," he said, referring to Lebanon's powerful Shiite militia.

"Secondly, we are doing everything in order to prevent an additional terrorist front opening up against us in the Golan Heights."

Russia is currently flying a bombing campaign in support of forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

Iran and allied Shiite militia Hezbollah are also battling on the side of the regime in Damascus -- making the trio de facto allies on the ground.

Israel fears that the chaos in Syria could help strengthen its arch-enemy Hezbollah and Netanyahu admitted for the first time this month that Israel had attacked dozens of convoys there which were transporting weapons to the group.

It was the first clear public acknowledgement that Israel had carried out attacks in neighbouring Syria with which it is still officially at war.

Russia has also stirred Israeli ire by pushing ahead with the long-awaited delivery of the S-300 air defence system to Tehran.

Iran used its annual Army Day parade last week to showcase parts of the systems -- ordered from Moscow in 2007 but not delivered until now due to UN Security Council resolutions relating to Tehran's nuclear programme.

Netanyahu last visited Moscow in September when he and Putin agreed to set up a "hotline" between the two sides to avoid accidental clashes between Russian and Israeli forces in Syria.
Source: AFP