Israeli parliamentarians voice concern about Russian-Iranian cooperation on Syria at talks with Russian counterparts
MOSCOW. Nov 9 (Interfax) - An Israeli parliamentary delegation voiced its concern about Russian-Iranian cooperation on Syria at negotiations in Moscow, Eyal Ben-Reuven, a member of the Israeli Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said to Interfax.
"We voiced Israel's concern at today's negotiations about the fact that, amid the war in Syria, Russia is maintaining interaction with Hezbollah and cooperation with Iran. We respect President Vladimir Putin's declared goal, the elimination of terrorism in Syria. On the other hand, cooperation with the Hezbollah movement is being maintained within the framework of this fight against terror," Ben-Reuven said.
Israel is closely watching the events ongoing in Iraq's Mosul and hopes the ISIL hotbed in this city would be eradicated, he said.
"It should be remembered though that terror is like an octopus's arms: if only you eliminate it at one place, it spreads to others, and it's still unclear where terrorist activity may migrate from there. If the infrastructure in Mosul is destroyed and they try to restore it in another place, it needs to be immediately eliminated there as well," Ben-Reuven said.
While visiting Moscow, several members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee took part in a joint meeting with members of the Russian Federation Council's International Affairs Committee and Defense Committee. Aliza Lavie, an Israeli delegation member, said 92% of military professions in the Israeli army are currently available to women, and the fact that women serve in the army in Israel has a positive effect on society in general.
"The fact that both men and women serve in the army affects society as well, and it's good for it. For instance, we have ten women in our commission now, and this has its effect on matters discussed in it," Lavie said.
Robert Ilatov, head of an Israeli-Russian inter-parliamentary friendship group, pointed out that, 25 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, its leaders enjoy close and friendly relations.
"Relations on the inter-parliamentary level are also very close. One of the issues that we have brought up is strategic dialogue between the foreign affairs and defense bodies of the Israeli and Russian parliaments. We talk openly and sincerely virtually about everything," Ilatov said.
"It's important, where possible, to transform the relationship between the leaders and inter-parliamentary ties into the phase of practical interactions on the international level so as to have mutual support. Western partners sometimes put pressure on us, but we still support a lot of Russia's initiatives," he said.
