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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, I am very pleased to see you on the sidelines of today’s event.

I recall the detailed conversation we had during your visit to Moscow.

Many events, some of them dramatic, are taking place in the world, but I want to start our discussion today by congratulating you on the upcoming Hanukkah holiday. This is a wonderful, joyous occasion, the triumph of light over darkness. Let’s hope that this will always be the case in international relations too.

We are satisfied with the way our bilateral relations are developing. I note that the coordination mechanism between our militaries that we established on your initiative in response to the escalating situation in the region is functioning, and functioning well.

There are other matters to discuss too, of course.

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu:Mr President, good to see you again.

This is our second meeting after our meeting in Moscow, and we also use the telephone to communicate.

I think that, as you say, the events of recent days prove the importance of our coordination and de-confliction mechanisms, our attempts to cooperate with each other, to prevent unnecessary accidents or tragedies, and I believe that we have been successful, and this is important.

Secondly, I believe we are engaged in a big battle against militant Islam, the terrorism it spews forth, the savagery, the barbarism, and this is another point of contact in addition to many others that we are engaged in.

I hope that Israel and Russia can see eye to eye on all the strategic matters, but I want to assure you that we believe it is within our power to have very good coordination on the ground and in the air so that we do not create the kind of problems we have been experiencing.

I’m very satisfied by the fact that our militaries have been very careful to coordinate with one another and will continue to do so. I think this is an indication of the openness and success of the relationship between Israel and Russia, our relationship. It’s good to see you again.