Posted on 09/09/2009 5:11:54 AM PDT by SJackson
The reason for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's mysterious disappearance from the media radar on Monday was a clandestine trip to Russia, according to a report Wednesday by the Hebrew language daily Yediot Aharonot.
Israel Radio reported that Netanyahu leased a private jet since he knew using an Israel Air Force jet would raise the suspicion of the Israeli media.
For the purpose, his office used a plane of the company Merhav, a company owned by Israeli mogul Yossi Miman, one of the shareholders of Channel 10 and EMG, an Egyptian company supplying gas to Israel Electric Company. Miman was not directly involved in leasing the jet, as this was done through a company he owns.
The PMO and Merhav refused to divulge the cost of the flight. Israel Radio further reported that the plane took off from a terminal in Ben Gurion International Airport which is mostly out of use.
The Prime Minister's Office would neither confirm nor deny whether Netanyahu visited Moscow.
Throughout Monday, the PMO when asked about Netanyahu's whereabouts, said only that he was on a tour. After hours of speculation, and numerous inquiring phone calls, the PMO finally released the following laconic statement Monday evening: "The Prime Minister's military attaché reports that the prime minister is visiting a security installation inside Israel."
Netanyahu was accompanied to the installation by National Security Adviser Uzi Arad and the military attaché, Meir Kalifi, according to the statement.
However, a trip by the prime minister to Russia may not be an impromptu decision, as there was already speculation during Netanyahu's tour of Europe two weeks ago that he would visit Russia ahead of the United Nations' General Assembly meeting at the end of this month.
Interestingly, almost exactly two years ago, then-prime minister Ehud Olmert paid a lightning visit to Moscow to meet with then-Russian president Vladimir Putin, a day after the Russian leader returned from a trip to Teheran in which he warned outside powers not to attack Iran and said there was no evidence it was developing nuclear arms.
Back then, the PMO tried to disconnect Olmert's trip from Putin's statements in Iran, but it was clear from the snap manner in which the meeting at the Kremlin was organized and announced that the Iranian nuclear issue would dominate the discussion.
A PMO statement was issued only one day ahead of the trip; the meeting was not open to the media, and was the first time in years that a prime minister has traveled for a one-day visit to a country other than Egypt, Jordan or Turkey.
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Something to do with this?
Why not, Putin is probably more sympathetic and trustworthy than the American TOTUS and Company. They might even back door green light Iran. Russia seems to have had a minor Iranian based Muslim problem themselves. Although they look to have been paid off; the Israel option looks to be quite a bit less expensive and has a bigger up side with a declining America.
Once upon a time, long long ago, the US drove India into the arms of the Soviets and had to build a secret relationship with Pakistan to counter India’s growing atomic ambitions.
Why should he trust Obama? I sure do not.
There are a couple of comments after the article at this link:
It is difficlt to reply to this article, so let me state that if it had NOT been for Russia, Iran would have gone nuclear a long time ago. Not with help from Russia but from France and Great Britain.
related additional:
Putin denies secret meeting with Netanyahu (Coming Raid on Iran?)
Ha’aretz | 15:29 09/09/2009 | By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Posted on 09/09/2009 7:07:15 AM PDT by Cinnamon Girl
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2335388/posts
Report: PM held secret talks in Russia (Benjamin Netanyahu)
www.ynetnews.com | (Sep 9, 2009 | Staff
Posted on 09/09/2009 7:47:23 AM PDT by VRWCTexan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2335426/posts
This is such a cover up incident. Was the intention to have the vessel go around Africa to Iran instead through Suez Canal where cargo manifests are scrutinized. It would not have had enough bunkers for such a long voyage. Then to tow the ship to Russian port, if true, makes this case very suspicious. In that case it seems that the ruskies are the real pirates!!!
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