Russia has offered to fund activities in the country for Israel's 60th anniversary this May, but government officials suspect that Moscow will use the "free lunch" to influence the nature of the event. Plans for the celebrations were recently discussed by an Israeli government official who visited Russian officials in Moscow.

The Russian World Foundation, established to promote Russia's past accomplishments and spread Russian culture, has proposed the idea of joint Russian and Israel events to celebrate the 60th year of the re-establishment of the Jewish State.