Putin warns against attack on Iran

‏         Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. During his meeting yesterday with President Shimon Peres, Putin said......"Look at what happened to the Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq. I told Obama the same thing," he said, cautioning against hasty military action. "Iraq has a pro-Iranian regime after everything that has happened. These things should be thought out ahead of time." The Russian presudent will visit Bethlehem today for talks with his Pa;estinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas. He will also visit the Church of the Nativity , before departing for Jordan , the last leg of his 2-day Middle East trip. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says Israel and Russia agree that Iranian nuclear weapons would constitute grave danger for not only Israel but the whole world. Speaking at a press conference following a two hour meeting in Jerusalem the prime minister said that sanctions should be stepped up on Iran and boosting demands for an end to the nuclear program. Putin said that the two leaders spoke extensively about Iran's nuclear program and the situation in Syria. He said the talks were detailed and very effective. The Russian president thanked Israeli leaders for inviting him saying the visit reinforced the friendly relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Netanyahu also said Israel expected future coopeation with the new Egyptian administration on the basis of the peace treaty. He said that peace is important for Israel and for Egypt. Netanyahu said that Russia could assist Israel and the Palestinians in advancing the peace process especially at such a challenging time. He asked Putin to transfer a message to Palestinian Authority leader Abbas that he is will to meet him at any time and any place. In response President Putin said that against the backdrop of events in the Middle East it is important to resolve longtime conflicts and urged both sides to resume negotiations. Earlier President Shimon greeted Putin at a dedication ceremony for a memorial to the Red Army's victory over Nazi Germany in Netanya. Peres said that Russia which fought facism will not tolerate similar threats, not an Iranian threat and not bloodshed in Syria. This evening President Putin is the guest of President Peres at an official dinner at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. I spoke with Dr Zeev Chanin, a political scientist at Bar Ilan University who serves as the chief scientist of the Immigrant Absorption Ministry about the significance of the Putin visit and what Israel can expect....