Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer visited Russia last week amid Lebanon ceasefire efforts — report

By Lazar Berman

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10 November 2024, 10:15 am

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Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer walks into the Executive Office Building next to the White House in Washington, DC on December 26, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer secretly visited Russia last week, Army Radio reports.

The visit appears to be part of Israel’s efforts to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon. Russia is a major player in Syria, and its cooperation in a diplomatic arrangement to end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah could be an important piece of a deal that keeps the Iran-backed group from rearming.

Dermer’s office tells The Times of Israel that it has no comment on the report.

A Russian delegation visited Israel on October 24. A source in Netanyahu’s office told The Times of Israel that the Russian delegation’s visit was not connected to hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.