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Is Putin Bibi's new 'bestie'?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin have developed a surprising rapport and unexpected coordination between their countries on Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (unseen) deliver joint statements during their meeting in Jerusalem November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Heidi Levine/Pool - RTX2T16O
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves March 9 for Moscow, where he will have a quick meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Netanyahu will depart Israel in the morning and return a few hours later, immediately after his talk with Putin. Sources close to Netanyahu say that he had asked for the meeting, the fifth between the two men in little over a year, to discuss developments in Syria, where Moscow's military presence has made the Russian Federation Israel's new neighbor.

Military sources keeping tabs on security coordination between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Russia stress that so far, relations can be characterized by a level of coordination that appears to be perfect. Nevertheless, as in any relationship, it is important to constantly work on it instead of taking it for granted. In this regard, Netanyahu gets compliments from Israel's high-ranking military and civilian echelons.

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