As the leaders of Israel and Russia met to discuss military coordination in Syria, the event drew mixed reactions on social media.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that he was in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin:
I'm in Moscow with Israel Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. pic.twitter.com/hfiUetOdcy
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) April 21, 2016
"Every single person on earth [is] against your policies. what will you discuss in #Russia?" asked one Twitter user.
@netanyahu @hrw #media #organizations every single person on earth against your policies. what will you discuss in #Russia ?
— Shahid Muhammad (@iamshahid4u) April 21, 2016
"Putin knows he is sitting next to a war criminal," quipped another, perhaps overlooking the many war crimes that Putin himself has committed over the years.
@IsraeliPM Putin knows he is sitting next to a war criminal
— OurLordIsOne (@theguymo) April 21, 2016
Some took a cautionary note. "Bibi! Watch your back over there with that KGB thug," wrote John Zajac.
@netanyahu Bibi! Watch your back over there with that KGB thug.
— John Zajac (@leopardtwo) April 21, 2016
"Be aware of the Czar Putin, Putin is not Israel's friend, he's in bed w/ the Iranian ayatollah & the murderous hezbolla terror[ist]s," said Juan Carlos Leonez.
Netanyahu reportedly told Putin at the meeting on Thursday that the Golan Heights was "a red line" that would "always" remain a part of Israel. Netanyahu said four days ago during a Cabinet meeting that Israel would never return the Golan Heights, under any circumstances.
The goal of the meeting with Putin--according to Israeli officials and Israeli media--was for Netanyahu to ascertain that Hezbollah and other militant organizations don't seize on Russia's withdrawal from Syria and set up camp on the Israeli border.
In the middle of March, Putin announced that Russia would begin withdrawing from Syria, where it has supported the government of embattled Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. However, doubt has been cast on Russia's promise to pull out from the Middle Eastern nation.
The White House said today that it was concerned that Putin was moving more military equipment to Syria in order to prop up Assad.
--HS
