Russian President Vladimir Putin's assistants conveyed his apology for not meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris next Sunday, where they are due to participate in the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Although the Israeli Prime Minister's office claimed that the cancellation was in response to a French demand not to hold side meetings, reliable political sources affirmed that the Russians canceled the meeting in an indicator of Moscow's rage over the official Israeli policy, especially Tel Aviv's statements on striking targets in Syria and threatening to destroy S-300 missiles system granted by Russia to Damascus.
The cancellation was coordinated between Putin and Netanyahu's offices without agreeing on another meeting, according to Israeli political sources.
The sources denied claims that this step is an attempt to cover any secret meeting that could take place, noting that Netanyahu might reconsider the Paris trip following the meeting's cancellation.
Israeli-Russian ties became strained in September when four Israeli jets raided an Iranian base in Latakia, after a previous coordination with Russia. The Syrian regime launched missiles against the jets hitting a Russian spy jet and killing all its staff. Russia held Israel responsible for downing the jet.
Foreign sources recently revealed that Greek and Israeli air forces conducted a joint exercise in which pilots were trained over attacking several targets, including destroying S-300 missiles.
Russians were angered over the intensive actions carried out by Netanyahu in a number of Eastern Europe countries, where Moscow wields influence. He is also signing oil deals that weaken the Russian oil exports.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, remarked that a meeting between the president and Israeli PM was not even planned.
