Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who doubles as the government “Minister for the Peace Process,” traveled to Russia on Tuesday to talk with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, reportedly over Moscow’s declared intentions to follow through with the sale of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to the Syrian regime. Her spokeswoman denied that the purpose of the visit was to talk about the S-300.
The missile system is considered one of the most sophisticated in the world and could down an Israeli commercial aircraft well within Israel’s borders. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu flew to Russia earlier this year to try to dissuade Russia from selling the system to Syria.
Livni’s discussions with Lavrov could be another chapter in the sage of American efforts to bring Israel and the Palestinian Authority back to direct negotiations over a future Palestinian Authority state. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was rumored to have been planning to return to the region this week, but the State Dept. has made no mention of a trip.