Unexpected move shows Putin is still angry with Israel
A meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Putin next week has been canceled due to lingering tensions over the downing of a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane in Syria. According to sources, Moscow was the one who canceled the meeting, which had been scheduled in Paris.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu (right) and Russian President Putin
Israeli media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has canceled a planned meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris, France next week because he is still angry about Israel's airstrikes in Syria. According to Kan news agency, Israel was surprised by the decision, because Tev Avil had begun preparing for the meeting.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the meeting was canceled because France requested that no meetings be held on the sidelines of the World War I commemoration ceremony in Paris, France.
Accordingly, a new meeting schedule between Mr. Netanyahu and the Russian leader has not yet been set. The cancellation of the meeting in Paris may cause Mr. Netanyahu to cancel his visit to Paris, the Ynet news site said. Relations between Russia and Israel have plummeted after the Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane was shot down in Syria, killing 15 of its soldiers. Moscow blamed Israel for the incident, saying that its fighter jet used the Il-20 as a shield, causing the reconnaissance plane to be hit by a Syrian missile.
As Moscow's anger continued to simmer, a senior Israeli official said last month that Tev Avil would continue to attack targets in Syria after the Il-20 incident. This statement is said to have "added fuel to the fire", making Russian President Putin even angrier and refusing to "forgive" Israel.
