Lieberman to Sputnik: Israeli-Russian Ties to Remain Warm After Election

Israel, home to millions of people from the former Soviet Union, will maintain good relations with Russia regardless of any outcome of the upcoming elections, Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Sputnik.

TEL AVIV (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova — The warm bilateral partnership between Russia and Israel will remain unchanged regardless of the outcome of Israel’s upcoming national elections, the country’s foreign minister told Sputnik.

"The warm relations between Israel, Russia and the other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will remain unchanged regardless of whoever wins the elections," Avigdor Lieberman said.

Lieberman underlined that "there is a consensus over [the Russian] matter in the Israeli society."

The Israeli foreign minister has repeatedly stated that maintenance of good relations with Russia is a priority for the country.

Israel, home to millions of people from the former Soviet Union, has refused to support the Western sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, and the country's authorities have announced that they will continue exporting agricultural products to Russia, not bowing down to EU pressure.

In August 2014, Russia introduced a one-year ban on certain food imports from the European Union, the United States, and other countries that had imposed sanctions against it.

Israel will hold the 20th election to the Knesset, the country’s parliament, on March 17. The two main rivals are the Likud party, headed by current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the opposition Zionist Union, led by Isaac Herzog.

The latest poll, published by Haaretz on Thursday, indicates a growing lead for Isaac Herzog over Netanyahu's party. The Zionist Union is polling 24 seats in the Knesset seat against 21 for Likud.