Netanyahu meets Putin and calls for action against evil

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Russian President Vladimir Putin that their task was to "defeat the kind of evil" seen in World War II as it occurs in the world now.

The two leaders met in Moscow to open an exhibition on the Sobibor Extermination Camp, in which the Nazis killed hundreds of thousands of people during WWII.

Netanyahu said, "I believe that one of the main lessons of the whole history of the Nazi arrival to power and defeat of Nazism is that it is necessary to prevent such kind of evil in time. This is our task today."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during an event devoted to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center and the anniversary of the complete lifting of the Nazi siege of Leningrad, January 29, 2018. /VCG Photo

"I want to talk with you about this today, and about what is happening in the region, about our common efforts, the promotion of security and stability in the region, and, of course, the development of bilateral relations between our countries, Israel and Russia."

Earlier in the day the Israeli leader had said he wanted to talk to Putin about concerns that Iran is smuggling missiles and weapons through Syria, with the help of Lebanon's Hezbollah.

He said Iranian-backed militias were aiming to turn Lebanon into a "missile factory" to target Israel.

Russia and Israel have shown mutual rapprochement in recent years, but share different visions on the Iranian nuclear deal and the future of Syria.

Russia and Iran are allies in their plan to create "de-escalation zones" in Syria, but Israel fears Iran is using the ceasefire agreement to establish permanent bases in the country.