Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Israel on Monday for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders against the backdrop of sustained violence in Syria and concern over Iran's nuclear program.
Putin will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres on Monday, as well as unveil a World War II memorial in the town of Netanya.
On Tuesday, Putin heads to the West Bank, and will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas, before traveling on to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II.
On the eve of the trip, Putin's top foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, said it would highlight "the importance of this region for us and is designed to further strengthen Russia's position here."
"Of course, the Syrian topic and the situation around Iran will be discussed in detail," he said.
Moscow and the West have been at loggerheads over the Syrian conflict, with the Kremlin refusing to support sanctions against its Soviet-era ally and resisting outside intervention.
Russia is pushing for an international Syria conference and has already discussed that plan with Jordan, a US ally in the region, as well as the European Union, Iran, and Iraq.
Moscow is seeking a political solution to the crisis, and has criticized Western and Gulf Arab states for undermining peace efforts.
Also high on Putin's agenda will be the issue of Iran's nuclear program, which is a key concern for the Jewish state.
Israel and its Western allies believe Iran's nuclear program masks a weapons drive, and the United States has led a push for tough sanctions against Tehran.
Iran denies the charges, instead pointing to the West's hypocrisy over Israel's own nuclear arsenal – said to number between 200 and 300 warheads.
Israel fears an Iranian bomb will erode its regional supremacy, and warned it reserves the right to use all means necessary to respond, including military force.
World powers have been pursuing talks with Tehran in recent months, but three high-level meetings – the most recent held in Moscow – have failed to produce any breakthroughs.
The P5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China) has agreed to another round of discussion on July 3 in Istanbul, but Israel has warned that lengthy talks give Iran time to continue uranium enrichment.
Israel is the Middle East's only nuclear power, and has rejected calls by Arab states for it to disarm.
Israel's nuclear weapons program continues to receive assistance from Western states, even though it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Jewish state is said to be arming German-supplied subs with nuclear warheads, with the full knowledge of the Berlin government, all while Germany participates in P5+1 talks over Iran's nuclear program.
Putin is also expected to discuss the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process in his talks with Netanyahu and Abbas.
The process is in a deep freeze, with direct negotiations on hold since late September 2010.
The Quartet grouping, which brings together the United States, United Nations, European Union, and Russia, has sought to nudge the sides back to the table.
But Israel has shown no interest in renewing talks with a Palestinian side too weak to pressure it to change the status quo.
The Palestinian Authority says it will not hold new talks without an Israeli settlement freeze and an agreement on the parameters for discussions on final borders.
Putin last traveled to Israel in 2005. His predecessor at the Kremlin, Dmitry Medvedev, visited the West Bank and Jordan last year.
(Al-Akhbar, AFP)
On Tuesday, Putin heads to the West Bank, and will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas, before traveling on to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II.
On the eve of the trip, Putin's top foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, said it would highlight "the importance of this region for us and is designed to further strengthen Russia's position here."
"Of course, the Syrian topic and the situation around Iran will be discussed in detail," he said.
Moscow and the West have been at loggerheads over the Syrian conflict, with the Kremlin refusing to support sanctions against its Soviet-era ally and resisting outside intervention.
Russia is pushing for an international Syria conference and has already discussed that plan with Jordan, a US ally in the region, as well as the European Union, Iran, and Iraq.
Moscow is seeking a political solution to the crisis, and has criticized Western and Gulf Arab states for undermining peace efforts.
Also high on Putin's agenda will be the issue of Iran's nuclear program, which is a key concern for the Jewish state.
Israel and its Western allies believe Iran's nuclear program masks a weapons drive, and the United States has led a push for tough sanctions against Tehran.
Iran denies the charges, instead pointing to the West's hypocrisy over Israel's own nuclear arsenal – said to number between 200 and 300 warheads.
Israel fears an Iranian bomb will erode its regional supremacy, and warned it reserves the right to use all means necessary to respond, including military force.
World powers have been pursuing talks with Tehran in recent months, but three high-level meetings – the most recent held in Moscow – have failed to produce any breakthroughs.
The P5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China) has agreed to another round of discussion on July 3 in Istanbul, but Israel has warned that lengthy talks give Iran time to continue uranium enrichment.
Israel is the Middle East's only nuclear power, and has rejected calls by Arab states for it to disarm.
Israel's nuclear weapons program continues to receive assistance from Western states, even though it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Jewish state is said to be arming German-supplied subs with nuclear warheads, with the full knowledge of the Berlin government, all while Germany participates in P5+1 talks over Iran's nuclear program.
Putin is also expected to discuss the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process in his talks with Netanyahu and Abbas.
The process is in a deep freeze, with direct negotiations on hold since late September 2010.
The Quartet grouping, which brings together the United States, United Nations, European Union, and Russia, has sought to nudge the sides back to the table.
But Israel has shown no interest in renewing talks with a Palestinian side too weak to pressure it to change the status quo.
The Palestinian Authority says it will not hold new talks without an Israeli settlement freeze and an agreement on the parameters for discussions on final borders.
Putin last traveled to Israel in 2005. His predecessor at the Kremlin, Dmitry Medvedev, visited the West Bank and Jordan last year.
(Al-Akhbar, AFP)
Uprooted Palestinian 
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