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Tel Aviv Considers Israeli-Russian Relations as Key National Priority

© East News / AP/FOTOLINKIsraeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman - Sputnik International
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Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman says good relations with Moscow are one of top priorities for Tel Aviv. This approach will be retained by any Israeli politician in office.

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MOSCOW, January 26 (Sputnik) — Israel will strive to maintain good relations with Russia regardless of the results of the March elections and possible changes in the country's government, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told RIA Novosti on Monday.

"Retaining good relations with Russia is a question of principle for Israel, it is one of the priorities. This is not a question of personal sympathies and antipathies of this or that politician. This is an acknowledged necessity," Lieberman said in a written message.

Israel must prioritize good relations with important world powers like Russia, Lieberman said.

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"I cannot imagine a sober-minded Israeli prime minister or foreign minister who will choose to change that paradigm," Lieberman said.

The minister also noted that a common language was important for maintaining good diplomatic relations between the two countries. He warned that this might be lost if ministers originating from the former USSR, including himself, lose their ministerial seats after the elections.

However, even if this is lost, political priorities will stay the same, Lieberman stressed.

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Lieberman is to arrive in Moscow on Monday. In March, Israel will hold snap parliamentary elections.

Analysts forecast weakening of Lieberman's Israel Our Home party after the vote, which might prevent him from retaining his foreign minister post.

Lieberman has served as foreign minister since November 2013, previously holding this position from 2009 to 2012.

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