Russian deputy FM meets Nasrallah in Beirut
Foreign Ministry spokesman registers displeasure with meeting, but says 'there’s nothing new here'
Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday registered its displeasure over a meeting between Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, and Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut.
During the Saturday meeting between the two men, Bogdanov reportedly conveyed Moscow’s dissatisfaction over the Shi’ite group’s involvement in the ongoing Syrian civil war.
Bogdanov refused to comment on the meeting. During his three-day visit in Beirut, he met officials from the Syrian opposition and discussed the possibility of reaching an agreement, Moscow stated.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor expressed dissatisfaction with news of the meeting, but said it was nothing extraordinary.
“Unfortunately, there’s nothing new here,” he told The Times of Israel.
Moscow’s position had always been to talk to Hamas and Hezbollah, Palmor said.
“One cannot but wonder what kind of example the Russians want to set with this meeting,” he added.
The Prime Minister’s Office had no comment.