From Russia with love

Russia has lifted its self-imposed ban on supplying the Iranian regime with sophisticated S-300 air-defense missile systems, leaving both Israeli officials and the Hebrew press deeply concerned.

Israel Hayom calls the weapons sale to Tehran a “domino effect,” in a not-so-thinly veiled criticism of this month’s agreement between Iran and the P5+1 world powers, including Russia, on an outline deal aimed at curbing the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

The paper goes on to dedicate a two-page article by foreign affairs analyst Boaz Bismuth to the pressures faced by US President Barack Obama, as the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee prepares to vote on legislation that would require any decision on lifting sanctions on Tehran to be approved by Congress. Bismuth does not spare the rod even slightly with regards to Obama, and the article notes no less than three times that the American leader is “angered” and “annoyed” at the various congressmen who have voiced opposition to the emerging Iran deal.

In 2007, the Kremlin had signed a contract to sell Tehran the S-300 system, but the weaponry was never delivered, amid strong objections by the United States and Israel. Moscow later blocked deliveries of the surface-to-air missiles to Tehran in 2010 after the United Nations slapped sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, barring hi-tech weapons sales.

Yedioth Ahronoth warns that the S-300 is essentially an “Iron Dome” for potential Iranian nukes, adding that the missile system itself has the Israel Defense Forces “worried.” The paper goes on to voice fears that the S-300 systems may even end up in the hands of the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, and quotes “foreign sources” who assess that the Israeli Air Force has already trained in an attempt to prepare for an attack on targets protected by the advanced Russian weaponry.

In Haaretz, aside from a bland description of the Russian weapons sale to Tehran, the front page focuses on IDF soldier Elad Yaakov Sela, 25, of the West Bank settlement of Bat Ayin, who was indicted Monday for espionage and disclosure of sensitive information, after he allegedly leaked classified military information to right-wing activists. According to the indictment, reporter Gili Cohen writes, Sela burrowed through nearly 15,000 classified documents — which he had no authorization to access — and warned activists of impending arrests in the area.

Also in the main headlines, reporter Jonathan Lis writes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog firmly deny that they held talks on the possible establishment of a government comprising the two leaders’ parties. Talk of a Likud unity government with the Zionist Union has been repeatedly dismissed by both sides, but rumors persist in what may be a ploy to pressure Netanyahu’s allies on the right — parties that are expected to form his next governing coalition — to be more flexible in their demands.

More on the topic of coalition talks: Yedioth notes that the Likud and Kulanu are on the verge of signing a final agreement that will award Moshe Kahlon’s party the finance, housing, and environmental protection ministries. The Shas party is set to get the Ministry of the Negev and the Galilee, as well as the Economics Ministry, Yedioth reports.

Netanyahu has until May 7 to present his coalition to President Reuven Rivlin.

On to the entertainment world. Jerusalem was abuzz last night as rumors quickly spread that MTV-award-messer-upper and self-proclaimed “Louis Vuitton Don” Kanye West was set to give an impromptu concert in the capital’s Tower of David Museum. However, fans had their hearts shattered after it became apparent that what could have been a beautiful, dark, twisted fantasy of a concert was canceled, due to what was reported as a lack of preparedness on the part of the museum. It later emerged that the museum was willing, but Kanye was too tired.

Yedioth dedicates a full spread to the hip-hop marvel; his wife, the ever-classy reality TV star Kim Kardashian; and their daughter, North, who all arrived in the Holy Land for the youngest West’s baptism at the St. James Cathedral in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City.

According to Israel Hayom, Kanye and Kim racked up a NIS 2,100 (about $525) bill at the capital’s Mona restaurant, where they dined with the city’s mayor, Nir Barkat. The couple sure live one hell of a life.