(JTA) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has pardoned Naama Issachar, an Israeli-American backpacker who was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison for drug smuggling. The Russian news agency Interfax News reported Wednesday that Putin had issued the pardon. Issachar, 26, had been returning from India to Israel by way… Read more »
Tagged Russian President Vladimir Putin
Dozens of world leaders will visit Jerusalem to mark 75th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation
JERUSALEM (JTA) — More than 30 heads of state will gather in Jerusalem on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The leaders will be attending the fifth World Holocaust Forum in January, which will coincide with the anniversary. Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Emmanuel Macron of France,… Read more »
Vladimir Putin claims he’s helping Jews in Syria — but there may not be any
(JTA) — Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that his country is aiding the Jews of Syria. Except it’s unclear whether any Jews actually remain in Syria after more than eight years of civil war. “We also help representatives of Judaism, we help Jews also in the restoration of their… Read more »
As Russia cracks down on dissent, Netanyahu campaign ads feature Putin
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party has launched a new ad campaign featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin, coinciding with one of the Kremlin’s largest crackdowns on political dissent in years. Large multi-story banners featuring Netanyahu with Putin, as well as others featuring President Donald Trump and… Read more »
Israel will continue to act against Iran in Syria, Netanyahu tells Putin in Moscow
(JTA) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel told Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday that Israel will continue to act against Iran’s attempts to entrench militarily in Syria. Netanyahu shortened his trip and planned to return Wednesday night, the day of his meeting with Putin, reportedly… Read more »
How Russian nationalism explains Putin’s outreach to Jews and Israel
(JTA) — While American politicians and pundits fumed at President Donald Trump’s performance at his much-anticipated meeting last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin, lost in the clamor was one small but crucial moment: Israel emerged from Helsinki a winner. Trump said that he and Putin had reached a “really good conclusion” for… Read more »
Netanyahu is welcoming authoritarians to Israel. Does that make his country safer?
(JTA) — It has become a staple of his stump speeches to audiences in Israel and abroad: Far from being isolated politically, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argues, Israel is forming new and stronger alliances with a host of countries around the world. In recent years, Netanyahu has either… Read more »