Russia, Israel ink military deal

Israel and Russia have inked a long-term agreement to cooperate in the military sector in a bid to improve bilateral relations.

The deal was signed during a meeting between Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his visiting Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak on Monday.

The Russian minister said Moscow has bought 12 Israeli pilotless aircrafts and is training 50 servicemen to operate them.

Russia is “studying seriously and attentively” the experience and practices of Israel’s military as it modernizes its army, he said.

Barak, for his part, said that Tel Aviv is ready to continue sharing its experiences with the Russian military in “fighting terrorism” and maintaining security, including the utilization of air drones.

The Israeli minister also proclaimed that the Tel Aviv regime owes its survival today to World War II efforts of Russian military against the German army.

“Israel would not exist if the Red Army had not defeated fascist Germany,” he told reporters.