Russia's Putin to visit Israel in 2010

[Kurska]

MOSCOW — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit Israel in 2010, he said on Friday, following a recent chill in ties between Moscow and Israel's arch-enemy Iran.
Putin's pledge to visit the Jewish state came during a meeting in Moscow with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who told him: "We would be happy to see you in Israeli in 2010."
"Thank you very much for the invitation. I will definitely come," replied Putin, who also said: "Israel is one of our highest-priority partners in the Middle East."
The announcement came after Russia's ties with Iran, a longtime partner, became strained in recent weeks due to an apparent toughening in Moscow's stance on the Iranian nuclear programme.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out at Russia for supporting a vote by the UN's nuclear watchdog IAEA censuring Tehran over its nuclear plans, in a rare criticism of Moscow by the Iranian leader.
Iranian officials have also complained that Russia is dragging its feet on fulfilling a contract to supply Iran with advanced S-300 surface-to-air missiles.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j0rYOcGnXxNPcdy2OQC1OyulMQpw

[azurnoir]

1. well its a good thing Putin is visiting

from what I've heard he should feel nearly at home in Netanya wonder if its on his itinerary

[Hydra]

2. Huh. This aught to be interesting

Assuming Russia isn't supporting Iran, will that mean that we're buddy-buddies again with this monster?

[Alamuti Lotus]

3. What great lessons in mass murder these kindreds could share with one another