Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) has praised his Russian counterpart, Valentina Matviyenko, who is currently visiting Israel.
"Israel and Russia have a long history together, going back more than a thousand years, during which time a rich and creative Jewish life flourished in Russia. It was also in Russia that the important and influential centers of the Zionist movement developed, and many of the new Jewish yishuv's heads and founders in the Land of Israel came from Russia. It is hardly necessary to mention the widespread and long-lasting aliyah of Jews from across Russia, as well as its neighboring CIS countries."
Edelstein added that "The relationship between our people continues to grow, also due to the cancellation of visa requirements. I hope that Russia and Israel will add to the many important issues on which they cooperate."