Russian rabbi says S-300 sale was a mistake

SIGHET, Romania – Berel Lazar, one of Russia’s chief rabbis and a confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin, told an interviewer that after Russia’s sale of S-300 anti-aircraft weapons to Syria, Israel “shouldn’t rely on anyone,” and that the sale was “a mistake.”

“First of all, I don’t think this is an issue of an existential threat,” Lazar said, speaking at an event celebrating the 90th birthday of late Jewish luminary Elie Wiesel. “I’m sure that in Israel today we have means to deal with our enemies, even with the S-300.

“However, we are certainly talking with the president [Putin] and explaining the sensitivity of the issue for our brothers in Israel, in Zion,” Lazar continued. “And we hope that the cooperation between Russia and Israel to stop the terror and to stop Iran will continue, and that Israel will continue to do everything necessary to ensure that the enemy’s terror does not reach its gates.

“This is a story that has been continuing for a long time,” the rabbi continued, “but in the wake of the downing of the Russian plane, Russia apparently made the decision that they have to sell this material in order to protect their aircraft. I think this is a mistake, and that this will only bring more trouble to the region. But I hope that Israel will be able to overcome these difficulties. I’m sure that the technology that the IDF has today will overcome these difficulties even under such conditions. I think we have to maintain the connection with Russia and to be in contact with everyone, but we shouldn’t rely on anyone else and must rely on God.”