Israel said to snub Russia event over S-300 sale
No high-level Israeli representatives will attend a ceremony marking 70 years since the Red Army’s victory over the Nazis, in what is perceived as a message to Putin over the sale of S-300s to Iran, Channel 10 reports.
Putin personally invited President Rivlin to the event, set for May 9, but it conflicted with the president’s trip to Germany to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations. Moscow also extended invitations to Avigdor Liberman and Sofa Landver, but the two declined a few days ago, in what the report says is a subtle jab at Moscow’s decision to lift the ban on shipping the missile defense systems to Iran.
Former president Shimon Peres was similarly asked to attend, but declined.
The Israeli envoy to Moscow is slated to attend.