The talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris turned out to be “successful and significant,” according to Netanyahu. Questions about whether the meeting would even take place were raised until the last moment. At first, Netanyahu even considered canceling the trip to France. However, he ultimately chose to take part in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

This was the first contact between the two leaders after the Syrian air defense system shot down a Russian Il-20 surveillance during an Israeli assault in mid-September. Moscow blamed Israel for the incident, yet, over the past few months the Netanyahu government has continuously tried to prove that relations with Russia were not disrupted.

“Our dialogue with Putin was quite successful and constructive," Netanyahu told journalists at a press conference that concluded the WWI commemoration. "I would call it rather significant. More details are unnecessary, I think.”

Netanyahu touched on this topic once more during the press conference, explaining the profound meaning of his visit to France and, more precisely, demonstrating Israel's growing role in world politics and its foreign policy achievements.