📞 This past Saturday evening (Nov. 15, 2025), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin connected over the phone. The chat, led by Putin, covered hot-button issues shaking the Middle East. Here's the latest:
Major talking points
- Gaza ceasefire flicker: Both leaders dove into recent developments in Gaza after the fragile truce. 🕊️
- Iran's nuclear ambitions: Concerns over Tehran's program sparked discussion on how to keep potential nuclear escalation in check. ⚛️
- Syria stabilization: With Damascus still rebuilding, they weighed in on next steps for peace and reconstruction. 🏗️
Last Thursday (Nov. 13, 2025), Moscow rolled out its own draft UN resolution on Gaza. Instead of backing the U.S. version that supports U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, the Russian text included:
- Calls for an international stabilization force under direct UN authority 🌐
- Opposes any demographic or territorial changes in Gaza 🚫
- Pushes for swift implementation of the two-state solution ✌️
By contrast, the U.S. proposal aimed at the UN Security Council would set up a stabilization force independent of the UN, while letting Israel keep control over Gaza's security perimeter for an unspecified period. 🤝
As these rival drafts make their way to the UN floor, all eyes will be on whether a compromise can be found or if tensions dial up further. Stay tuned! 🔍
Reference(s):
Israeli PM, Russian president discuss Middle East issues over phone
cgtn.com
